| M26 (NGC6694) / Open Cluster, type f, II 3 m |
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| R.A. | 18h 45m 12.0s (2000.0) |
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| Dec. | -09° 24' 00" (2000.0) |
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| Apparent Size | 9.0' |
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| Real Size | 13 light yrs. |
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| # of Stars | 30 |
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| Magnitude | 9.3 |
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| Distance | 4900 light yrs. |
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M26 is a small open cluster bathed in the Small-Star Cloud of Scutum that is a bright and noticeable part of the summer's Milky Way.
It may be interesting to compare the cluster with another bright one of M11 in same constellation.
M26 is much more indistinct than M11, only 20 or more fine stars can be counted.
You need conditioned night sky to enjoy its pretty view through binoculars or small telescopes.
But there is a lump of dark cloud stretched toward the cluster so you can recognize M26 without buried under the light of Milky Way.
M26 is lying about 5000 light-years away, a bit closer than M11.
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