Messier 56 (M 56)

Introduction | Map | Find/Identify | My Best Own Photos | My Own Observations | References || Appendix: My Own Photos

On this page I collect my observations of the globular star cluster M 56 (NGC 6779) in the constallation Lyra.

Introduction

The globular star cluster M 56 in the constellation Lyra is definitely smaller than many other globular star clusters that I have observed so far and is also not that concentrated.

M 56 (NGC 6779)
Size: 3' (Stoyan) / 8.8' (Wikipedia)
Distance: 31,000 light years (Stoyan)
Rating: ** (Stoyan).

Map

M 56 in Lyra, M 57 is nearby, double star Albireo as well, and the two Hercules clusters M 13 and M 92 are not too far away... (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

Find/Identify

Find: M 56 in the constellation Lyra was initially harder to find for me than the clusters M 92 and even more so M 13 in the constellation Hercules. But when you proceed from the "lower edge" of the constellation Lyra (star Sulafat) towards Albireo, you will find M 56 about halfway along the route relatively easily (see maps above and below).

Identify: Once you found M 56 in the way as described above, it is also identified, because there are no other globular star clusters in the vicinity... (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

My Own Photos

Atik Infinity & Explorer 150PDS (December 31, 2017)

M 56 (Lyra), unprocessed		Ditto, post-processed		Ditto, post-processed and sharpened

eVscope

M 56 - Jun 12, 2020		M 56 - Jun 11, 2020, processed		M 56 - Jun 12, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 56 - Aug 24, 2020		M 56 - Aug 24, 2020, processed		M 56 - Aug 24, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 56 - Sep 30, 2020		M 56 - Sep 30, 2020, processed		M 56 - Sep 30, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 56 - Sep 8, 2021		M 56 - Sep 8, 2021, processed		M 56 - Sep 8, 2021, processed and sharpened

eVscope 2 (3)

M 56 - Aug 21, 2023		M 56 - Aug 21, 2023, photo left processed		M 56 - Oct 10, 2023, 5 min

Vespera

M 56 - original (17 frames = 170s)

Vespera Pro

M 56, Jul 7, 2024 - 1800p (60 frames = 600s), 1:1 section		M 56, Jul 7, 2024 - 1800p (60 frames = 600s), 1:1 section, processed
M 56, Jul 8, 2024 - 1800p (90 frames = 900s), 1:1 section		M 56, Jul 8, 2024 - 1800p (90 frames = 900s), 1:1 section, processed

My Own Observations

Observations Summer to Autumn 2016

• I observed M 56 in Mühlhausen/Kraichgau (time and telescope are unknown / forgotten). There was a sphere to be seen, but it appeared much smaller than M 13 and M 92.
• Late September/early October 2016 (Sumène, Haute Loire, France: Heritage 100P): I did not find M 56 - despite several attempts.

Observations August 2018

• Aug 19 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Skymax-102, Skymax-127, AZ Pronto Mount): M 56 observed with both tubes; very faint in the Skymax-127, and even more so in the Skymax-102.

Observations October 2018

• Oct 5 (Betz, France: unknown telescope): M 56 observed well

Observations September/October 2019

• Oct 3, 2019 (Sumène, France: StarTravel 120/600 on AZ Pronto Mount): M 56 (24, 10, 7, 4 mm) small with 24 mm, then observed with 10, 7, and 4 mm; slightly resolved at 4 mm.

Observations April to November 2020

• April 15, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 56 photographed in the morning, but the sky was already fairly bright
• June 11, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 56 photographed in the new rectangular format withput overlay
• June 12, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 56 photographed (n.o., r.f.)
• July 3, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 56 photographed (n.o., r.f.)., sky too bright
• August 24, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 56 photographed (n.o., r.f.).
• September 8, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 56 photographed (n.o., r.f.)
• September 18, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 56 photographed (n.o., r.f.)
• September 30, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 56 photographed (n.o., r.f.), slightly disturbed
• October 10, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 56 photographed (n.o., r.f.)
• November 24, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 56 photographed (n.o., r.f.)

Observations August/September 2021

• August 14, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: C8 on Star Discovery): M 56 observed; faint, smaller than M 13/M 92
• September 8, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 56 photographed (n.o., r.f.), new image size and processing

Observations August to October 2023

• August 21, 2023 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope2): M 56 photographed; new image processing (DDT)
• October 10, 2023 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope2): M 56 photographed; new image processing (DDT; app version 2.5)

Observations July 2022

• July 31, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera Pro): M 56 photographed (about 3 min)

Observations July 2024

• July 7, 2024 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera Pro): M 56 photographed (10 min)
• July 8, 2024 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera Pro): M 56 photographed (15 min)

References

• Messier Catalogue - Messier 56: messier.seds.org/m/m056.html
• Messier 56 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_56

On this Site

• Sky-Watcher Heritage 100P Information (4" Dobson)
• Sky-Watcher Explorer 150PDS Information (6" Newton)
• Sky-Watcher Skymax-102 OTA Information (4" Maksutov-Cassegrain)
• Sky-Watcher Skymax-127 OTA Information (5" Maksutov-Cassegrain)
• Sky-Watcher StarTravel 120/600 OTA Information (4.7" Refractor, Borrowed)
• Celestron C8 OTA - Informationen (8" Schmidt-Cassegrain)
• Unistellar eVscope Information
• Unistellar eVscope 2 Information
• Vaonis Vespera - Information
• Vaonis Vespera Pro - Information
• Sky-Watcher Star Discovery AZ GoTo Mount Information
• Sky-Watcher AZ Pronto Mount Information
• Atik Infinity Colour Camera - Information

My Own Photos

Atik Infinity & Heritage 100P (December 7, 2017)

With Barlow Lens (2 x)

M 56 (Lyra), unprocessed		Ditto, post-processed		Ditto, more "aggressively" post-processed

With Focal Extender (2 x)

M 56 (Lyra), unprocessed		Ditto, post-processed		Ditto, more "aggressively" post-processed

Atik Infinity & Explorer 150PDS (December 31, 2017)

M 56 (Lyra), unprocessed		Ditto, post-processed		Ditto, post-processed and sharpened

eVscope

M 56 - Apr 15, 2020		M 56 - Apr 15, 2020, processed		M 56 - Apr 15, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 56 - Apr 15, 2020		M 56 - Apr 15, 2020, processed		M 56 - Apr 15, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 56 - Jun 11, 2020		M 56 - Jun 11, 2020, processed		M 56 - Jun 11, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 56 - Jun 12, 2020		M 56 - Jun 11, 2020, processed		M 56 - Jun 12, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 56 - Jul 3, 2020, sky too bright		M 56 - Jul 3, 2020, processed		M 56 - Jul 3, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 56 - Aug 24, 2020		M 56 - Aug 24, 2020, processed		M 56 - Aug 24, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 56 - Sep 8, 2020		M 56 - Sep 8, 2020, processed		M 56 - Sep 8, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 56 - Sep 18, 2020		M 56 - Sep 18, 2020, processed		M 56 - Sep 18, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 56 - Sep 30, 2020		M 56 - Sep 30, 2020, processed		M 56 - Sep 30, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 56 - Oct 10, 2020		M 56 - Oct 10, 2020, processed		M 56 - Oct 10, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 56 - Oct 10, 2020		M 56 - Oct 10, 2020, processed		M 56 - Oct 10, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 56 - Nov 24, 2020		M 56 - Nov 24, 2020, processed		M 56 - Nov 24, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 56 - Nov 24, 2020		M 56 - Nov 24, 2020, processed		M 56 - Nov 24, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 56 - Sep 8, 2021		M 56 - Sep 8, 2021, processed		M 56 - Sep 8, 2021, processed and sharpened

eVscope 2 (3)

M 56 - Aug 21, 2023		M 56 - Aug 21, 2023, photo left processed		M 56 - Oct 10, 2023, 5 min

Vespera

M 56 - original (17 frames = 170s)

Vespera Pro

M 56, Jul 7, 2024 - 1800p (60 frames = 600s), 1:1 section		M 56, Jul 7, 2024 - 1800p (60 frames = 600s), 1:1 section, processed
M 56, Jul 8, 2024 - 1800p (90 frames = 900s), 1:1 section		M 56, Jul 8, 2024 - 1800p (90 frames = 900s), 1:1 section, processed