Messier 26 is a compact open cluster in the constellation Scutum, located about 5,000 light-years from Earth. Though it is smaller and less prominent than some of its Messier siblings, M26 still offers a rewarding view for patient stargazers. Containing a few dozen stars packed into a tight region only about 15 arcminutes across, it provides a pleasing contrast to the more sprawling clusters nearby. Its stars shine modestly against the glow of the Milky Way, reminding observers that even the quieter members of the catalog have their own subtle beauty.
One of the easiest ways to find Messier 26 is to start with the brilliant Wild Duck Cluster (M11), one of the sky’s finest open clusters. M26 lies just three degrees to the south, making it a natural companion for an evening’s viewing. The difference between the two is striking: where M11 dazzles with hundreds of stars in a dense wedge-shaped formation, M26 shows only a few dozen, scattered in a looser, less concentrated pattern. Observing them together highlights the diversity of open clusters and makes M26 feel like a hidden gem tucked in the same stellar neighborhood.
In small telescopes, M26 may at first seem like a faint knot of light, but a bit of magnification reveals its brighter stars sprinkled across a compact field. Medium telescopes bring out more of its members, showing that it is not a grand spectacle but instead a gentle cluster that rewards those who take the time to linger. Its placement within the grand Scutum Star Cloud ensures a rich background, which adds depth and atmosphere to the view.
M26
Rating: 🟢 Solid Catch
Level: 🟢 Moderate
How:
When: Jun - Sep
🌟 A Natural Companion to the Wild Duck One of the best reasons to observe M26 is its proximity to M11, one of the sky’s showpiece clusters. By pointing your telescope just a few degrees south of the Wild Duck, you can enjoy a smaller, contrasting cluster in the same part of the sky. Observing the two together highlights the diversity of open clusters.
🌟 Compact and Distinctive Form Unlike sprawling open clusters that scatter their stars widely, M26 appears compact and tightly gathered. Its few dozen stars fit into a field only about 14 arcminutes across, giving the cluster a more concentrated, “nugget-like” quality that stands out against the Milky Way’s glow.
🌟 Enhanced by the Scutum Star Cloud M26 lies in the midst of the Scutum Star Cloud, one of the richest regions of the Milky Way. This backdrop of countless faint stars makes the cluster feel more embedded in its environment, adding a sense of depth and context to the view.
🌟 A Subtle Challenge Because it is not as bright or populous as other Messier clusters, M26 offers a good test for observers learning to pick out fainter objects. Finding and resolving it can be satisfying, especially for beginners who want to sharpen their skills.
🌟 A Rewarding Target for Small to Medium Telescopes While binoculars may only show M26 as a faint haze, small telescopes can resolve its brighter members, and medium instruments reveal more of its stellar content. This progression makes it an object that grows in interest as you return to it with different equipment.
Open cluster: a loose group of a few dozen to a few thousand young stars that formed together and are loosely bound by gravity.
M26
The best way to star hop to Messier 26 is to begin with its much brighter neighbor, the Wild Duck Cluster (M11) in Scutum. M11 is one of the richest and easiest-to-spot open clusters in the summer sky, appearing as a bright, concentrated patch within the Scutum Star Cloud. If you need help in finding this, see Wild Duck (M11).
From the Wild Duck Cluster, look a bit west for three of the brightest stars of Scutum, Beta Scuti (+4.23), Alpha Scuti (+3.84), and Delta Scuti (4.71). If these are too dim to see easily, binoculars should make it easy even in moderately light-polluted skies.
Point to Alpha Scuti and center it. Using binoculars, a telescope finder or a low-powered eyepiece, hop 2° from Alpha to Delta Scuti and continue a bit less than 1° to M26. In binoculars it may look like a faint smudge, while in a telescope it resolves into a compact grouping of stars. Because M26 is relatively small and not especially bright, using low to medium magnification makes it easier to spot against the busy background of the Milky Way.
M26
✅ Use M11 as a Guide The easiest way to locate Messier 26 is by starting at the bright and unmistakable Wild Duck Cluster (M11). From there, simply shift your view about three degrees south, and you’ll land right on this smaller, compact neighbor.
✅ Choose Low to Medium Magnification M26 spans only about 15 arcminutes, so low to medium magnification frames it well without losing surrounding context. Higher magnification can help separate individual stars, but the cluster’s charm lies in its compactness against the Milky Way.
✅ Observe Under Dark Skies Because M26 is not especially bright, it benefits greatly from darker skies. Away from city lights, its stars stand out more clearly against the background haze of the Scutum Star Cloud.
✅ Compare It with the Wild Duck After observing M26, return to M11 and notice the contrast. Where M11 dazzles with hundreds of stars, M26 feels more modest and concentrated. Observing the two back-to-back highlights just how diverse open clusters can be.
✅ Experiment with Averted Vision Some of the fainter members of M26 may pop into view more easily when using averted vision. Let your eyes relax and look slightly to the side of the cluster to draw out its subtler sparkle.
M26
❌ Naked Eye
To the naked eye, Messier 26 is not visible, even from the darkest skies. Its modest size and faint concentration of stars blend entirely into the rich background of the Milky Way in Scutum, leaving no obvious hint of its presence.
✅ Binoculars
In binoculars, Messier 26 appears as a dim, fuzzy patch of light with little detail. Its compact nature makes it seem almost like a small unresolved glow, and while a few of its brighter stars may begin to hint through, the overall impression is subtle.
✅ Small Telescope
Through a small telescope, M26 begins to resolve into a handful of distinct stars. The cluster takes on a compact form, standing out against the brighter background of the Scutum Star Cloud, though its sparseness is still apparent compared to nearby clusters such as M11.
✅ Medium Telescope
With a medium telescope, the cluster shows more of its faint members, revealing several dozen stars scattered across a tight field about 15 arcminutes wide. The contrast between its concentrated appearance and the surrounding star fields makes it easier to appreciate as a distinct open cluster.
✅ Large Telescope
In a large telescope, Messier 26 reveals its full richness, with many faint members brought into view alongside its brighter stars. Its compact shape remains a defining feature, but the increased resolution makes the cluster appear deeper and more structured, turning it into a rewarding though understated summer target.
M26
Messier 26 is a compact but modest open cluster in Scutum, and its appearance is strongly influenced by sky darkness. While it never rivals the brilliance of its nearby neighbor M11, under the right conditions it has a subtle beauty worth seeking.
🟣 In Bortle 1–2 skies, M26 stands out cleanly as a small, condensed cluster set against the rich Scutum Star Cloud. Its brighter stars sparkle sharply, and the fainter members add depth, giving the cluster a satisfying density despite its modest size.
🔵 In Bortle 3–4 skies, the cluster remains well defined, though the faintest background stars are muted. M26 still appears as a compact gathering, but it loses some of the richness that makes it stand out in darker conditions.
🟠 In Bortle 5–6 skies, M26 becomes harder to distinguish from the Milky Way background. Its brighter stars are visible, but the cluster appears sparse, more like a small knot of stars rather than a true grouping.
🔴 In Bortle 7+ skies, M26 is very difficult to appreciate. Light pollution washes out the surrounding star fields, leaving only a few stars that no longer convey the sense of a cluster. It effectively disappears into the glow of the urban sky.
M26
DSOs within 48° or 2 outstretched hands at arm's length
M26 - A Modest Neighbor to the Wild Duck
From the Wild Duck Cluster, look a bit west for three of the brightest stars of Scutum, Beta Scuti (+4.23), Alpha Scuti (+3.84), and Delta Scuti (4.71). If these are too dim to see easily, binoculars should make it easy even in moderately light-polluted skies.
Point to Alpha Scuti and center it. Using binoculars, a telescope finder or a low-powered eyepiece, hop 2° from Alpha to Delta Scuti and continue a bit less than 1° to M26. In binoculars it may look like a faint smudge, while in a telescope it resolves into a compact grouping of stars. Because M26 is relatively small and not especially bright, using low to medium magnification makes it easier to spot against the busy background of the Milky Way.
