The Butterfly Cluster (M6)
R/B-band color composite image from the Second Digitized Sky Survey (DSS2), measuring 15 arcminutes across.
Finder chart
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From South El Monte , the Butterfly Cluster is visible in the evening sky, becoming accessible around 21:14 (PDT), 18° above your south-eastern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 23:03, 23° above your southern horizon. It will continue to be observable until around 00:57, when it sinks below 18° above your south-western horizon.
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Name
The Butterfly Cluster (M6)
|
Object type
Open cluster
|
Position
| Right ascension: | 17h40m [3] |
| Declination: | −32°15' [3] |
| Constellation: | Scorpius |
| Magnitude: | 4.20 (V) [5] 4.48 (B) [3] |
| Distance: | 487.0 parsec 1587.6 lightyrs [2] |
| B-V Color (mag): | 0.28 |
Derived quantities
| Absolute mag (V): | -4.24 |
Sources
Visibility from South El Monte
All times shown in South El Monte local time.
Events
| 16 Jun 2025 | – The Butterfly cluster is well placed |
| 17 Jun 2026 | – The Butterfly cluster is well placed |
| 17 Jun 2027 | – The Butterfly cluster is well placed |
| 16 Jun 2028 | – The Butterfly cluster is well placed |
| 16 Jun 2029 | – The Butterfly cluster is well placed |
| 17 Jun 2030 | – The Butterfly cluster is well placed |
| 17 Jun 2031 | – The Butterfly cluster is well placed |
| 16 Jun 2032 | – The Butterfly cluster is well placed |