Messier 14
Globular cluster in Ophiuchus
title: "Messier 14" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["globular-clusters", "ophiuchus", "messier-objects", "ngc-objects", "astronomical-objects-discovered-in-1764", "discoveries-by-charles-messier"] description: "Globular cluster in Ophiuchus" topic_path: "general/globular-clusters" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_14" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Globular cluster in Ophiuchus ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox globular cluster"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Messier 14 |
| image | [[File:Messier 14.jpg |
| caption | Globular cluster Messier 14 in Ophiuchus |
| epoch | J2000 |
| class | VIII |
| constellation | Ophiuchus |
| ra | |
| title | NGC 6402 |
| access-date | 2006-11-15 |
| dec | |
| dist_ly | 30.3 kly |
| appmag_v | 7.6 |
| size_v | 11.0 |
| mass_msol | |
| radius_ly | 50 ly |
| metal_fe | –1.28 |
| names | NGC 6402 |
| :: |
| name = Messier 14 | image = [[File:Messier 14.jpg|300px]] | credit = | caption = Globular cluster Messier 14 in Ophiuchus | epoch = J2000 | class = VIII | constellation = Ophiuchus | ra = | title=NGC 6402 | access-date=2006-11-15 | dec = | dist_ly = 30.3 kly | appmag_v = 7.6 | size_v = 11.0 | mass_msol= | radius_ly= 50 ly | metal_fe = –1.28 | v_hb = | age = | notes = | names = NGC 6402
Messier 14 (also known as M14 or NGC 6402) is a globular cluster of stars in the constellation Ophiuchus. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1764.
At a distance of about 30,000 light-years, M14 contains several hundred thousand stars. At an apparent magnitude of +7.6 it can be easily observed with binoculars. Medium-sized telescopes will show some hint of the individual stars of which the brightest is of magnitude +14.
The total luminosity of M14 is in the order of 400,000 times that of the Sun corresponding to an absolute magnitude of -9.12. The shape of the cluster is decidedly elongated. M14 is about 100 light-years across.
A total of 70 variable stars are known in M14, many of the W Virginis variety common in globular clusters. In 1938, a nova appeared, although this was not discovered until photographic plates from that time were studied in 1964. It is estimated that the nova reached a maximum brightness of magnitude +9.2, over five times brighter than the brightest 'normal' star in the cluster.
Slightly over 3° southwest of M14 lies the faint globular cluster NGC 6366.
Gallery
File:M14HunterWilson.jpg|Messier 14 with amateur telescope File:M14map.png|Map showing location of Messier 14
References
References
- "Messier 14".
- distance × sin( diameter_angle / 2 ) = 50 ly radius
- (31 March 2015). "Messier 14 {{!}} Messier Objects".
- (August 1927). "A Classification of Globular Clusters". Harvard College Observatory Bulletin.
- (November 2011). "Young Radio Pulsars in Galactic Globular Clusters". The Astrophysical Journal.
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