M7

Messier 7, or the Ptolmey Cluster, can easily be found in the constellation Scorpius with the naked eye under dark skies. It makes a great binocular and telescope object. Open clusters that we view are generally much closer than globular clusters. Rather than being tens of thousands of lightyears away, this cluster is only 980 lightyears distant and 25 lightyears across.

This image was taken as part of Advanced Observing Program (AOP) program at Kitt Peak Visitor Center during 2014.