SUNSET: 
0
Photographer:
massimo.difusco
Location of Photo:
Rio Hurtado (Chile)
Date/Time of photo:
02/06/2025 03:00
Equipment:
Data acquired at Chilescope: ASA Newton 500 @1900mm, ASA DDM85 equatorial Mount, FLI PL16803 camera, Astrodon R/G/B filters
Description:
Messier 18 (also known as M18 or NGC 6613) is a relatively dim open star cluster located in the constellation Sagittarius. It lies at an approximate distance of 4900 light years from Earth and has an apparent magnitude of 7.5. Messier 18 may form a binary star cluster with the nearby NGC 6618, embedded within Messier 17 (the Omega Nebula). Scientists have speculated that the proximity of the two clusters may suggest that they had formed together. The cluster is estimated to be about 32 million years old, which makes it quite Young, and the hottest stars have the spectral classification B3. Most of the stars in M18 are quite small, but the cluster is also home to several bright blue, yellow and orange stars and it also contains a small amount of dust and nebulosity.
