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47 Tucanae

C106, NGC 104, Xi Tucanae, HR 95, Melotte 1

Proper NameNone
Caldwell NumberC106
NGC/IC NumberNGC 104
Other Designations47 Tucanae, Xi Tucanae, HR 95 (all originally stellar designations); Melotte 1
ConstellationTucana
Right Ascension0h 24m 5s
Declination-72° 4' 53"
Distancec.14,400 light years
c.4,400 parsecs
MagnitudeApparent: +4.0
Absolute: -9.3
DiameterApparent: 50'
Actual: c.240 light years
Optimum VisibilityOctober (Usually visible from southern latitudes)
NotesBy a series of misunderstandings and misidentifications, this object acquired the stellar designations Xi Tucanae and 47 Tucanae. The latter designation is still commonly used, though the object is now known to be a globular cluster (and indeed the second brightest such cluster in the sky, after Omega Centauri).

A Globular Cluster so bright it can be seen with the naked eye, 47 Tucanae lies roughly 14,400 light years from Earth, in approximately the direction of the Small Magellanic Cloud.

Image of 47 Tucanae

A spherical cloud of very ancient stars, the Globular Cluster 47 Tucanae lies just outside the disc of our Milky Way galaxy.

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