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Show the direction and distance to this star cluster on the Galactic Map.

Proper Name	Butterfly Cluster
Messier Number	M6
NGC/IC Number	NGC 6405
Constellation	Scorpius
Right Ascension	17h 40m 20s
Declination	-32° 15' 12"
Distance	c.15,900 light years c.4,900 parsecs
Magnitude	Apparent: +4.2 Absolute: -4.3
Diameter	Apparent: 20' Actual: 9 light years
Number of Stars	c. 120
Optimum Visibility	June / July
Notes	This rich and bright open cluster lies northward of the Fishhook of Scorpius' tail, alongside another bright cluster, Ptolemy's Cluster or M7. M6's arrangement of stars gives a vague impression of a butterfly with outstretched wings, an impression reinforced by two distinct streams of stars that can be seen as the northward-pointing antennae of the butterfly.

Imagery provided by Aladin sky atlas

An open star cluster that lies in the heart of the Milky Way as it passes through the southern parts of Scorpius. M6 is bright enough to be seen by the naked eye, and lies a little to the north of its more prominent neighbouring cluster, M7 or Ptolemy's Cluster.

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