Credit: Armen Akopian
Astronomical and Imaging Data
| RA: | 15h 28m 00.69s |
| DEC: | -50° 40′ 22.9″ |
| MAG: | 8.01 |
| Diameter: | 6.0′ |
| Const: | Lup |
| OTA | ASA 1000RC |
| Focal Length | 6500mm |
| Camera | FLI PL16803 |
| Site | El Sauce, Chile |
| Sky Quality | Bortle 1 |
Useful Informations
NGC 5927 is a globular cluster located in the constellation Lupus. It is a scientifically important object because of its unusual properties for a globular cluster, specifically its relatively high metallicity and its kinematic link to the Milky Way’s thick disk.
Physical Properties
- Distance: Located approximately 25,100 light-years from Earth.
- Apparent Magnitude: It has an apparent magnitude of +8.01, making it a faint target for small telescopes.
- Concentration: NGC 5927 is classified as a Shapley–Sawyer Concentration Class VIII, indicating a low-to-moderate central concentration of stars.
Chemical and Stellar Characteristics
- High Metallicity: NGC 5927 is one of the most metal-rich globular clusters known, with a metallicity of [Fe/H] ≈ -0.47 dex. This is a very high value for a globular cluster, which are typically metal-poor, making it more similar in composition to stars found in the Galactic disk.
- Multiple Stellar Populations: As with many globular clusters, NGC 5927 contains multiple stellar populations, with stars exhibiting variations in the abundance of light elements like oxygen and sodium.
- Galactic Location: Its high metallicity and orbital kinematics strongly suggest that NGC 5927 belongs to the Milky Way’s thick disk rather than the halo, where most globular clusters are found. This makes it a key object for studying the formation and evolution of the different components of our galaxy.