Messier 73 is a grouping of four stars in the center of this image that is located in the constellation of Aquarius.

This group shines at ninth magnitude and has an apparent size of 2.8 arcminutes. The four individual stars in M73 have magnitudes from 10.38 to 11.87.

M73 was discovered by Charles Messier on October 4, 1780. He originally thought it was a star cluster with associated nebulosity and listed it in his catalog. John Herschel later observed M73 and did not find any nebulosity and doubted it was a star cluster.

Recent observations indicate that the stars are located at different distances and have different motions in space, and that they are just a chance alignment and an asterism, but some questions remain about this data and it is possible that M73 may be the remnants of an old open cluster.

North is to the top in the above image.

Messier 73 Catalogs: M73, NGC 6994 Object Type: Asterism Magnitude: 8.9v Size: 1.0' Constellation: Aquarius Image Field Centered At: RA: 20h 58m 55s Dec: -12° 38' 11"