M23 is a loose galactic cluster of stars
found in the constellation Sagittarius. This cluster lies about
2,150 light-years from Earth and contains about 150 stars of
magnitude 10 and fainter. It stretches over a distance of about
20 light-years in diameter and has a total visual magnitude of
5.5. M23 can easily be resolved with binoculars and its large
size makes it a prime candidate for small, wide-field
telescopes.
