M2
Where is M2?
Look south, about 38° up at 21:38 in Aquarius.
- Rises
- 15:38
- Highest
- 21:37
- Sets
- 03:36
- Best after dark
- 21:38 · 38°
Can I see M2 tonight?
From London tonight, M2 is above the horizon after dark. It’s highest after dark at 21:38, in the south at 38°.
At magnitude 6.5, with its light spread out, it needs binoculars and a dark sky.
This is position and timing only: clouds, haze and light pollution aren’t included.
What does M2 look like?
Eyes
Not usually visible to the eye.
Binoculars
A fuzzy, star-like glow.
Telescope
A bright, slightly elliptical glow. Larger telescopes resolve its outer stars.
About M2
M2 is a large, bright globular cluster in Aquarius, about 37,000 light-years away. It is one of the larger globulars known, containing around 150,000 stars.
It sits in a sparse part of the autumn sky, so it stands out well once you find it.
M2 was discovered by Jean-Dominique Maraldi in 1746. Messier saw it in 1760 and described it as a nebula without stars; William Herschel resolved it in 1783.
It is about 175 light-years across and around 13 billion years old.
Because it sits in a region with few bright stars, a sweep with binoculars from Sadalsuud usually picks up its small, fuzzy glow first. Larger telescopes show a dense core and a spray of faint stars around it.
M2 is best seen on early-autumn evenings, when Aquarius is well placed in the south. Its core is bright enough to cut through moderate light pollution.
Nearby in the sky
Questions
When is M2 best placed?
Sources: SkyMate; star chart: Wikidata (CC0). Positions computed for your place and time with astronomy-engine. Data & Licences