15h46m3.4s, −37° 47′10″| NGC 5986 | |
|---|---|
NGC 5986 by Hubble Space Telescope; 3.5′ view
| |
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Class | VII[1] |
| Constellation | Lupus |
| Right ascension | 15h46m 03.00s[2] |
| Declination | –37° 47′ 11.1″[2] |
| Distance | 33.9 kly (10.4 kpc)[3] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 8.0 |
| Apparent dimensions (V) | 5' |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Absolute magnitude | −8.44[4] |
| Mass | 5.99×105[3] M☉ |
| Metallicity | ![{\displaystyle {\begin{smallmatrix}\left[{\ce {Fe}}/{\ce {H}}\right]\end{smallmatrix}}}](https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4c0821bd80891e071c08e7c7ee8e022baedf522c) = −1.35[5] dex |
| Estimated age | 12.16 Gyr[5] |
| Other designations | ESO 329-SC 018, NGC 5986[6][7] |
| See also: Globular cluster, List of globular clusters | |
NGC 5986 is a globular cluster of stars in the southern constellationofLupus, located at a distance of approximately 34 kilolight-years from the Sun.[3] It was discovered by Scottish astronomer James Dunlop on May 10, 1826. John L. E. Dreyer described it as, "a remarkable object, a globular cluster, very bright, large, round, very gradually brighter middle, stars of 13th to 15th magnitude".[8] Its prograde–retrograde orbit through the Milky Way galaxy is considered irregular and highly eccentric. It has a mean heliocentric radial velocity of +100 km/s.[4] The galacto-centric distance is 17 kly (5.2 kpc), which puts it in the galaxy's inner halo.[9]
This is relatively massive cluster has been poorly studied, at least as of 2017.[4] It is moderately concentrated, with a core radiusof28.2″ and a projected half-light radius of 58.8″. The three dimensional half-mass radius is ~78.16″.[10] The cluster has a higher metallicity – what astronomers term the abundance of elements with higher atomic number then helium – compared to most other objects of its type.[11] It may have at least 4–5 different stellar populations with distinct elemental compositions, and there is evidence that it has lost ~60–80% of its original mass.[4]
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Media related to NGC 5986 at Wikimedia Commons
