M13
Quick Summary
Messier 13 (M13) is a globular cluster, a large, densely packed group of old stars with a roughly spherical shape. Visible to the naked eye as a hazy patch in the constellation Hercules, M13 was first studied extensively after the invention of the telescope.12
Globular clusters like M13 are among the oldest objects in the Milky Way Galaxy, with ages estimated between 11 and 13 billion years. They are composed of Population II stars, which have a lower abundance of heavy elements compared to stars like our Sun. M13 is located approximately 23,000 light-years from Earth and is known for being relatively poor in variable stars compared to other globular clusters.12
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