NGC 6401

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NGC 6401
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has used its powerful optics to separate the globular cluster NGC 6401 into its constituent stars. What was once only visible as a ghostly mist in the eyepieces of astronomical instruments has been transformed into a stellar landscape.
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Constellation	Ophiuchus
Right ascension	17h 38m 36.93s
Declination	−23° 54′ 31.5″
Distance	24.450
Apparent magnitude (V)	7.40
Apparent dimensions (V)	4.8'
Physical characteristics
Other designations	ESO 520-SC011, GCL 73, H I-44, h 1982, h 3697, GC 4314
See also: Globular cluster, List of globular clusters

NGC 6401 is a globular cluster in the constellation Ophiuchus. William Herschel discovered this star cluster in 1784 with his 47 cm telescope, but mistakenly believed it to be a bright nebula. Later his son, John Herschel, was to make the same error because the technology of the day was insufficient to allow the individual stars to be resolved visually.