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AsteriaStar
Globular cluster · Lupus

NGC 5986

Deep skyNGC 5986

Scientific overview

NGC 5986 is a globular cluster in the constellation Lupus. It shines at apparent magnitude 6.92 and spans about 5.4 arcminutes of sky.

Observation guide

Difficulty
Binoculars
Recommended equipment
10×50 binoculars or any small telescope
Best observed
Summer (S. evening sky)
Best hemisphere
Southern

Guidance follows standard observing practice, derived from the object's real magnitude and position. A dark, moonless sky always helps.

Location in the sky

Constellation
Lupus
RA / Dec
15.7676h / -37.7861°
Hemisphere
Southern
Season
Summer

Precision measurements

Distances and velocities from SIMBAD · NGC 5986

Radial velocity101 ± 0.4 km/sSIMBAD · measured
Right ascension (ICRS)236.5125 degSIMBAD · measured
Declination (ICRS)-37.786417 degSIMBAD · measured
Full field-level provenance
  • Radial velocity: Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · rvz_radvel · 2018MNRAS.478.1520B · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Right ascension (ICRS): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · ra · 2010AJ....140.1830G · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Declination (ICRS): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · dec · 2010AJ....140.1830G · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11

Physical size is derived from the OpenNGC angular size and the catalogued distance (small-angle: size = angle × distance). This is a Galactic object: its Doppler shift is shown as a radial velocity, not a cosmological redshift. Fields a source did not provide are omitted, never invented.

ObjectTypeMagSize (′)
NGC 5822NGC 5822Open cluster6.518
NGC 5749NGC 5749Open cluster8.87.2
NGC 5927NGC 5927Globular cluster8.866.6
NGC 5824NGC 5824Globular cluster9.565.1

Sources

The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.

  • OpenNGCOpenNGC (M. Verga) — NGC/IC, Messier, and Caldwell catalogue data

    Openly-licensed deep-sky catalogue: object types, positions, magnitudes, sizes, morphology, and cross-identifiers.