Butterfly Cluster
Where is the Butterfly Cluster?
Low in the southwest, at most 0° up around 20:20 in Scorpius.
- Rises
- 15:08
- Highest
- 17:44
- Sets
- 20:21
- Best after dark
- —
Can I see the Butterfly Cluster tonight?
From London tonight, the Butterfly Cluster stays low while the sky is dark: at best 0° above the southwest horizon around 20:20. You’ll need a clear, flat view in that direction.
At magnitude 4.2, with its light spread over an area of sky, it can be seen by eye from a dark site; light pollution hides it quickly.
This is position and timing only: clouds, haze and light pollution aren’t included.
What does the Butterfly Cluster look like?
Eyes
Under dark skies, a small hazy patch near M7.
Binoculars
A compact, sparkling cluster. M7 is nearby.
Telescope
At low to medium power the butterfly pattern is easy to trace, with an orange star at one wingtip.
About the Butterfly Cluster
M6, the Butterfly Cluster, is a bright open cluster near the tail of Scorpius, whose stars outline the shape of a butterfly with open wings.
It is about 1,600 light-years away and includes a bright orange giant star among its blue-white members.
M6 sits just a few degrees from the larger M7, and the two make a fine binocular pair.
M6 is roughly 100 million years old. Its brightest orange star, BM Scorpii, is a giant that varies slightly in brightness.
The cluster was first recorded in the 17th century by the Italian astronomer Giovanni Hodierna. From mid-northern latitudes M6 never climbs much above the southern horizon, so a clear view low in the south and a steady night make a real difference.
From the Southern Hemisphere it passes high overhead in winter evenings, set against the brightest part of the Milky Way.
Nearby in the sky
Questions
Why is M6 called the Butterfly Cluster?
Sources: SkyMate; OpenNGC (CC BY-SA 4.0); star chart: Wikidata (CC0). Positions computed for your place and time with astronomy-engine. Data & Licences