NGC 6712

NGC 6712 is a globular cluster that was probably discovered by Le Gentil on July 9, 1749 when investigating the Milky Way star cloud in Aquila. He described it as a “true nebula,” in contrast to the open star cluster M11. Independently discovered by William Herschel on June 16, 1784 and cataloged as H I.47; he also first classified it as a round nebula. John Herschel was the first to describe it as a globular star cluster during his observations in the 1830s.

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The cluster appears to be about 12 billion years old and may have originally have been significantly more massive having undergone significant mass loss due to passes through the galactic disc. For a globular cluster, NGC 6712 is somewhat metal-rich.

NGC 6712

Keywords: NGC 6712, 110 Finest NGCs, Aquila, globular cluster