images

M11, the Wild Duck Cluster in Scutum

by

J.Lodriguss/Novapix

Reference

a-aou67-05008

Date

2007-08-05

Located in the constellation of Scutum, it is sometimes mistaken for a loose globular cluster. M11 is called the "Wild Duck Cluster" because of it's resemblance to a flight of wild ducks when viewed in a telescope. M11 has an overall brightness of magnitude 5.8 and a size of 35 arc minutes (a little larger than the full moon). It contains as many as 500 stars ranging from 9th magnitude down to 14th magnitude.