C66
NGC 5694
Object Data
- Catalog Designation
- C66
- Type
- GlobularCluster
- Constellation
- Hydra
- Magnitude
- 10.2
- Right Ascension
- 14h 39m 36.5s
- Declination
- -26° 32' 16.8"
- Distance
- 105,000 light-years
- Angular Size
- 4
Survey Image
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About C66
Description
NGC 5694 is a remote globular cluster in Hydra, about 113,000 light-years from Earth. It is one of the most distant globular clusters in the Milky Way's halo and has a very low metallicity, suggesting it formed early in the galaxy's history.
Observing Tips
A small, faint, unresolved glow in an 8-inch telescope. Cannot be resolved into individual stars with amateur equipment. Located in a relatively sparse star field. Best in spring evenings.
History
Discovered by William Herschel on May 22, 1784. Its extreme distance and low metallicity have led some astronomers to suggest it may have been captured from a satellite dwarf galaxy.
Fun Facts
NGC 5694 is one of the oldest objects in the Milky Way, with an estimated age of about 12 billion years. It may have originated in a now-destroyed dwarf galaxy that was absorbed by the Milky Way.
Community Photos (1)
Credit: Judy Schmidt. License: CC BY 2.0. (Wikimedia Commons)
Skybred Mar 2, 2026