Map of the Universe
M54
Globular cluster · Globular cluster in Sagittarius
About M54
M54 is about 85,714 light-years from the Sun, so the light we see from it left about 85,714 years ago.
It is 60,047 light-years from the centre of the Milky Way.
The map lists it as a globular cluster and shows it at the scale of the Milky Way and the Local Group, drawn on the plane of the Milky Way.
The nucleus of the Sagittarius Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy, which the Milky Way is tearing apart.
Key numbers
| Distance | 85,714 light-years (26.28 kpc) |
|---|---|
| Distance from the Galactic centre | 60,047 light-years |
| Galactic coordinates | l = 5.61°, b = -14.09° |
| Absolute magnitude (V) | -10.0 |
| Stellar mass | 1.7 × 10⁶ suns |
| Half-light radius | 12 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: Milky Way, a view about 160,000 light-years across.
From Wikipedia
Messier 54 is a globular cluster in the constellation Sagittarius. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1778 and then included in his catalog of objects that could be mistaken for comets.
Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Messier 54, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearby on the map
- Sagittarius Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy Dwarf galaxy
- Milky Way Galaxy
- Balbinot 1 Globular cluster
- Draco II Dwarf galaxy
- Stellar halo (break radius) Galactic structure
- Koposov 2 Globular cluster