Messier Index/M18
| Messier 18 | |
|---|---|
 M18 photo from the w:2MASS project. | |
| Observation data (J2000.0 epoch) | |
| Right ascension | 18h 19.9m |
| Declination | −17° 08′ |
| Distance | 4.9 kly (1.5 kPc) |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 7.5 |
| Apparent dimensions (V) | 9.0′ |
| Other designations | NGC 6613 |
Messier 18 or M18 (also designated NGC 6613) is an w:open cluster of w:stars in the w:constellation Sagittarius. It was discovered by w:Charles Messier in w:1764 and included in his list of w:comet-like objects. From the perspective of w:Earth, M18 is situated between the w:Omega Nebula (M17) and the w:Sagittarius Star Cloud (M24). Its age is estimated at 32 million years.
