Messier 62 — Globular Cluster in Ophiuchus

M62 (NGC 6266) is a globular cluster in the constellation Ophiuchus, located approximately 22,200 light-years from Earth. It shines at magnitude 6.5 and spans about 15 arcminutes, corresponding to a true diameter of roughly 100 light-years. M62 is one of the most irregularly shaped globular clusters in the Messier catalog — its core is noticeably offset from the geometric center of the outer halo, likely due to tidal interactions with the Milky Way's bulge. The cluster lies very close to the galactic center (only about 6,100 light-years away) and is one of the most massive globular clusters in the galaxy, containing several hundred thousand stars. M62 is extremely rich in variable stars, with nearly 90 known RR Lyrae variables, and it contains one of the highest concentrations of millisecond pulsars among all globular clusters.

Located about 5 degrees south-southeast of Antares and 7.5 degrees south of M19, M62 sits in the rich star fields near the Milky Way's center. In binoculars it is a bright, compact fuzzy spot. A 4-inch telescope at 100x shows a bright, concentrated glow with an obvious core that appears slightly asymmetric or lopsided. An 8-inch telescope at 150-200x begins to resolve stars around the edges, though the dense core remains unresolved. The cluster's asymmetric profile is a distinguishing characteristic visible even in modest apertures. Due to its southerly declination (-30 degrees), it is best observed from mid-northern latitudes when it transits. Best observed from June through August.

Discovered by Charles Messier on June 7, 1771, who described it as 'a very fine nebula; discovered in Scorpius, it resembles a small comet.' The object is actually in Ophiuchus, very close to the Scorpius border. William Herschel was the first to partially resolve it into stars. Modern studies have revealed M62 to be dynamically complex, with its proximity to the galactic center subjecting it to strong tidal forces that likely caused its asymmetric shape.