Rektascenzija	19 : 53.8 (u:m)
Deklinacija	+18 : 47 (sto:m)
Razdalja	11.7 (*1000 sv.l.)
Vizual. magnituda	8.2 (mag)
Zorni kot	7.2 (loc min)

For a long time, the classification of M71 as a globular cluster was uncertain, many astronomers thought it was a rather condensed open cluster, similar to M11, e.g. Shapley, who classified it as type "g", his densest open cluster class, and Trumpler. James Cuffey of Kirkwood Observatory, University of Indiana, has investigated both cluster types. In 1943 he found that M71 was more resembling a loose globular like M68 (class X) or NGC 5053 (class XI), but in 1959 he took a Color-Magnitude Diagram which he found more similar to that of an open galactic cluster. Even Burnham is still uncertain of M71's type ! Also other criteria, as the radial velocity, and the abundance of heavier elements (metalicity) is of little help in this case: The radial velocity is poorly known, the sources differ from 80 km/sec in approach to 80 km/sec in recession, the most modern value being perhaps 23 km/sec in approach; this value is not very high and thus consistent with both types, and the metalicity is one of the highest for globulars, only M69 has higher abundances. It seems that the high metallicity is connected with a low number of RR Lyrae stars: None could be found in M71 (nor in M69), which has only 8 known variables at all.

Nevertheless, there's now some consensus that M71 is a loose globular. According to newer sources (e.g., W.E. Harris' globular cluster data file), it is 11,700 light years distant. Its denser, easily visible core is only about 5 to 6 arc minutes, while in photos it has an angular diameter of about 7', corresponding to a linear extension of only 25 light years, small for a globular cluster. However, faint members have been detected out to a total diameter of 24', making it measure 90 light years. The membership of these faint stars, however, is not yet finally confirmed, according to Kenneth Glyn Jones.

Vec posnetkov M71

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Povzeto po:
Hartmut Frommert (spider@seds.org)
Christine Kronberg (smil@lrz.uni-muenchen.de)