Map of the Universe
M4
Globular cluster · Globular cluster in Scorpius
About M4
M4 is about 6,034 light-years from the Sun, so the light we see from it left about 6,034 years ago.
It is 21,356 light-years from the centre of the Milky Way.
The map lists it as a globular cluster and shows it among the stars around the Sun, drawn on the plane of the Milky Way.
The nearest globular cluster, 6,030 light-years away (Baumgardt & Vasiliev 2021).
Key numbers
| Distance | 6,034 light-years (1,850 pc) |
|---|---|
| Distance from the Galactic centre | 21,356 light-years |
| Galactic coordinates | l = 350.97°, b = +15.97° |
| Absolute magnitude (V) | -7.0 |
| Stellar mass | 1.1 × 10⁵ suns |
| Half-light radius | 8 light-years |
Data: Local Volume Database v1.1.1 (Pace 2025).
Where it is
Its place in the universe, from the inside out: Milky Way › Local Group › Virgo Supercluster › Laniakea Supercluster › Observable universe.
Zoom out to see it in context: Local Arm, a view about 12,000 light-years across.
From Wikipedia
Messier 4 or M4 is a globular cluster in the constellation of Scorpius. It was discovered by Philippe Loys de Chéseaux in 1745 and catalogued by Charles Messier in 1764. It was the first globular cluster in which individual stars were resolved.
Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Messier 4, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearby on the map
- OGLE-2011-BLG-0462 Black hole
- NGC6334 Star-forming region
- Trifid Nebula Nebula
- Lagoon Nebula Nebula
- SN 1006 Supernova remnant
- Omega Nebula Nebula