Messier Index/M79

Messier 79 280px w:J2000 V Lepus 05 24 10.59SIMBAD Astronomical Database Results for NGC 1904 http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/Simbad 2006-11-17 -24 31 27.3 41 klyFebruary 2007 12 kpc +8.56 8,7' M79, NGC 1904, GCl 10 Messier 79 (also known as M79 or NGC 1904) is a w:globular cluster in the w:Lepus constellation. It was discovered by w:Pierre Méchain in w:1780. M79 is at a distance of about 41,000 w:light years away from w:Earth and 60,000 light years away from the w:Galactic Center. Like w:Messier 54 (the other extragalactic globular on Messier's list), it is thought that M79 is not native to the w:Milky Way galaxy at all, but instead to the w:Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy which is currently experiencing a very close encounter with the Milky Way, one it is unlikely to survive intact. This is, however, a contentious subject as astronomers are still debating the nature of the Canis Major dwarf galaxy itselfRe-affirming the connection between the Galactic stellar warp and the Canis Major over-density; care must therefore be taken when associating any object with the Canis Major dwarf. References External links Messier 79, SEDS Messier pages Messier 79, Galactic Globular Clusters Database page