NGC 5694

NGC 5694
The core of NGC 5694 imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ClassVII
ConstellationHydra
Right ascension14h 39m 36.5s
Declination−26° 32′ 18.0″
Distance114,100ly
Apparent magnitude (V)10.2
Apparent dimensions (V)3.6′
Physical characteristics
Metallicity[Fe/H] = –1.74 dex
Estimated age13.44 Gyr
Other designationsCaldwell 66
See also: Globular cluster, List of globular clusters

NGC 5694 (also known as Caldwell 66) is a globular cluster in the constellation Hydra. It was discovered by German-British astronomer William Herschel on 22 May 1784.

Characteristics

This globular cluster is located at a distance of 114,000 light-years (35,000 pc) from the Sun and 96,000 light-years (29,000 pc) from the Galactic Center and is one of the oldest known globular clusters in the Milky Way Galaxy, forming nearly 12 billion years ago.

Its chemical composition is highly peculiar, being highly (to nearly solar levels) enriched in alpha elements, suggesting an extragalactic origin before being captured by the Milky Way.

Noctua

NGC 5694 is located below the tail of the former constellation Noctua, which included faint stars within the modern IAU borders of Libra, Hydra, and Virgo.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Results for NGC 5694". SEDS NGC Catalog Online. Retrieved 2010-12-07.
  2. 1 2 "NGC 5694". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2010-12-07.
  3. 1 2 Forbes, Duncan A.; Bridges, Terry (May 2010), "Accreted versus in situ Milky Way globular clusters", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 404 (3): 1203–1214, arXiv:1001.4289, Bibcode:2010MNRAS.404.1203F, doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.16373.x, S2CID 51825384.
  4. ↑ Seligman, Courtney. "New General Catalogue Objects: NGC 5694". Celestial Atlas. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  5. ↑ Harris, W.E. (1996). "A Catalog of Parameters for Globular Clusters in the Milky Way". The Astronomical Journal. 112: 1487. Bibcode:1996AJ....112.1487H. doi:10.1086/118116.
  6. ↑ "NGC/IC Project". Results for NGC 5694. Archived from the original on 2012-05-20. Retrieved 2010-12-07.
  7. ↑ Mucciarelli, A.; Bellazzini, M.; Catelan, M.; Dalessandro, E.; Amigo, P.; Correnti, M.; Cortés, C.; d'Orazi, V. (2013), "NGC 5694: Another foster son of the Galactic halo★", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 435 (4): 3667–3680, arXiv:1308.6653, doi:10.1093/mnras/stt1558