Messier 15 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Messier 15 |
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| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Class | IV |
| Constellation | Pegasus |
| Distance | 33.6 kly (10.3 kpc) |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Other designations | NGC 7078, GCl 120 |
| See also: Globular cluster | |
Messier 15 is a huge group of stars called a globular cluster. You can find it in the constellation of Pegasus, which looks like a winged horse. A scientist named Jean-Dominique Maraldi first saw this cluster in 1746.
About Messier 15
Messier 15 is super far away from Earth – about 33,600 light-years! That's how far light travels in 33,600 years. The cluster itself is also huge, about 175 light-years across.
Stars and Special Objects Inside
Inside M15, there are more than 100,000 stars! Some of these are special: 112 are variable stars (their brightness changes), and 8 are pulsars (which are like cosmic lighthouses, sending out beams of radiation).
M15 is also home to something cool called Pease 1. This is a planetary nebula, which is a cloud of gas and dust from a dying star. Pease 1 was the very first planetary nebula ever found inside a globular cluster!
Images for kids
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The central part of M15, seen using a special "lucky imaging" technique.
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A map showing where M15 is located in the night sky.
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M15 photographed by the Hubble Space Telescope. The blue object to the upper left is the planetary nebula Pease 1.
See also
In Spanish: Cúmulo globular M15 para niños
