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Catalogue and alternative designations M73

 

Type Asterism 
Position 05 25 05, -68 28 16
Constellation Aquarius
Camera and Telescope STXL11002 and 36.8 cm Ritchey Chretien
Focal Ratio F9
Exposure Details LRGB 30:30:30:30 all exposures binned 2x2
Description M73 was discovered by Messier in 1780 and described as a cluster with some nebulosity.  The "nebulosity" was probably a reflection of the quality of 18th century telescopes and is now known to be non-existent.  M73 is simply an asterism of four unrelated bright stars and as a result is the least impressive object in the Messier catalogue.  The apparent magnitude is 9 and it is about 2.8' in apparent diameter.