NGC 6709

NGC 6709 is an open cluster of stars in the equatorial constellation of Aquila, some 5° to the southwest of the star Zeta Aquilae. It is situated toward the center of the galaxy at a distance of 1075 pc.

This cluster has a Trumpler class of IV 2 m, and is considered moderately rich with 305 member stars. It is around 141 million years old; about the same as the Pleiades. The core radius of NGC 6709 is 0.68 pc and the tidal radius 8.08 pc. It contains two Be stars and one of them is a shell star. There is one candidate red giant member.

On the evening of November 13, 1984, David H. Levy discovered his first comet less than a degree from this cluster.