NGC 104
47 Tuc
Properties
Position & Identifiers
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NGC 104 · 31.8′ diameter · N up, E left
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About NGC 104
Description
47 Tucanae (NGC 104) is the second-brightest globular cluster in the sky (after Omega Centauri), located about 13,000 light-years away in Tucana. At magnitude 4.0, it is easily visible to the naked eye and spans 31 arcminutes, appearing projected near the Small Magellanic Cloud.
Observing Tips
One of the greatest deep-sky showpieces. Visible to the naked eye as a fuzzy star near the SMC. Binoculars show a large, bright, granular ball. Any telescope resolves it beautifully into thousands of stars. The dense, blazing core is unforgettable. Best from southern latitudes year-round.
History
First noted by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in 1751. It has been observed by every major space telescope and is one of the most studied stellar systems in astronomy. It was designated "47 Tucanae" in Johann Bode's star catalog as if it were a star.
Fun Facts
47 Tucanae contains at least 25 millisecond pulsars, over 300 X-ray sources, and numerous blue stragglers. Despite a dense search, no planets have been found around its stars, suggesting that the crowded environment may prevent planet formation or survival.