Messier Object 11, M11, the Wild Duck Cluster

Messier Object 11, M 11

Open Cluster in Scutum

Image Information
Date Imaged	07/17//2009
Location Imaged From
Location Imaged From	Barking Pumpkin Observatory in Tierra del Sol, CA
Equipment	Telescope: Orion 80ED mounted on a 10" f/6.3 LX200 Classic Mount: Ulti-Wedge Camera: SBIG ST2000XM w/Astrodon Tru-Balance Filters Focal Ratio: f/7.5
Exposure Information	LRGB 30:30:30:30
The Wild Duck Cluster (also known as Messier 11, or NGC 6705) is an open cluster in the constellation Scutum. It was discovered by Gottfried Kirch in 1681. Charles Messier included it in his catalogue in 1764. The Wild Duck Cluster is one of the richest and most compact of the known open clusters, containing about 2900 stars. Its age has been estimated to about 220 million years. Its name derives from the brighter stars forming a triangle which could represent a flying flock of ducks.