NGC 6656 (M22)

NGC 6656, also known as Messier 22 (M22), is a bright and relatively close globular cluster in the constellation Sagittarius. It is a densely packed spherical collection of around 100,000 stars bound together by gravity. M22 is roughly 10,000 light-years away from Earth and spans about 65 light-years across. Its stars are mostly old, with ages nearing 12 billion years, providing insight into the early universe. As one of the brightest globular clusters visible from Earth, M22 is an important object for astronomers studying stellar evolution and the structure of our galaxy.