Globular cluster · Sagittarius

Messier 55

M55 · NGC 6809

Low after darkLow · south · 7° at 20:20

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Where is Messier 55?

Times for LondonChange city

Low in the south, at most 7° up around 20:20 in Sagittarius.

Rises: 16:53
Highest: 19:44
Sets: 22:34
Best after dark: 20:20 · 7°

Can I see Messier 55 tonight?

From London tonight, Messier 55 stays low while the sky is dark: at best 7° above the south horizon around 20:20. You’ll need a clear, flat view in that direction.

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 Messier 55 look like?

Eyes

Not visible

Too faint to see by eye.

Binoculars

A small, fuzzy ball of light.

Telescope

The edges break up into stars at medium magnification in larger telescopes.

What you’re likely to see, not what a space telescope photographs. General guidance from catalog brightness and size, not a forecast for tonight.

About Messier 55

Messier 55 (M55) is a globular cluster in Sagittarius, with a total brightness of magnitude 6.5 and an apparent size of 12′.

Nearby in the sky

Its constellationSagittarius Another globular clusterHercules Cluster Another globular clusterM22 8° awayAscella 9° awayGumala GuideBinoculars or telescope: what to start with

Sources: OpenNGC (CC BY-SA 4.0); star chart: Wikidata (CC0). Positions computed for your place and time with astronomy-engine. Data & Licences