{
  "id": 3935126,
  "title": "The Wild Duck cluster, M11, a lovely open cluster in Scutum",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/the-wild-duck-cluster-m11-a-lovely-open-cluster-in-scutum",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-28T10:00:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "EarthSky",
    "slug": "earthsky",
    "url": "https://earthsky.org/clusters-nebulae-galaxies/wild-duck-cluster-deep-sky-gem-by-eagles-tail/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Wild Duck cluster, officially designated Messier 11 (M11), is an open star cluster located in the constellation Scutum. This cluster consists of a loosely bound group of stars that were formed from the same gas cloud. Open clusters like M11 are much farther away than open clusters such as the Pleiades and the Hyades. The Wild Duck cluster lies approximately 6,120 light-years from Earth, making it quite faint and requiring binoculars or a telescope to observe.\n\nTo locate the Wild Duck cluster, first find the bright star Altair in the constellation Aquila the Eagle, which is part of the Summer Triangle. Altair is flanked by two moderately bright stars, Tarazed and Alshain. Following a star-hopping chart, you can move about 8 degrees from Altair to Delta Aquilae. Keeping your binoculars pointed downward, about twice the Altair-Delta Aquilae distance, you should see a semicircle of stars that fills your binocular field. The Wild Duck cluster will appear as a hazy star-like object just beneath this semicircle pattern.\n\nThe Wild Duck cluster is best seen when it is relatively high in the southern sky. In the Northern Hemisphere, this occurs during the early morning hours before sunrise in spring, late night in early summer, and mid-evening in late summer and early fall. The cluster contains over 2,900 stars and is 6,200 light-years away from Earth. It is one of the most massive open star clusters known, with the hottest, bluest stars congregating at its center. Scientists believe the cluster formed between 250 to 316 million years ago. Originally named the Wild Duck cluster due to a V-shaped pattern of its brightest stars resembling a wild duck formation, it was cataloged by French astronomer Charles Messier in 1764.",
  "summary": "The Wild Duck cluster, also known as M11, is an open star cluster in the constellation Scutum that appears best through binoculars or a telescope. The post The Wild Duck cluster, M11, a lovely open cluster in Scutum first appeared on EarthSky .",
  "key_points": [
    "Wild Duck cluster, M11, an open star cluster in Scutum constellation",
    "Approximately 6,120 light-years away from Earth",
    "Contains over 2,900 stars, formed 250 to 316 million years ago"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}