Globular Star Cluster M4

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The globular star cluster known as M4 likely contains a few hundred thousand stars. At a distance of 7,200 light years it is one of the closest globular star clusters to our solar system.    

This star cluster is located within the constellation of Scorpius.   It is visible in binoculars and small telescopes and it located just 1.3 degrees west of the star Antares. 1764 the French comet hunter Charles Messier made it the fourth object, M 4, of his now famous catalog.

This image was obtained using the Palomar Observatory's 60-inch Telescope by Antonin Bouchez of the California Institute of Technology.   This color image is composed of three images taken with g, r, and i filters displayed as blue, green, red.  

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