Globular cluster in Capricornus

M30 (NGC 7099)

Photo: NASA, ESA/Hubble

From New York on October 13, 2026, M30 rises at 4:31 PM in the ESE, is highest at 9:08 PM (26° above the horizon in the S) and sets at 1:44 AM in the WSW.

Rises 4:31 PMESE
Highest 9:08 PM 26° S
Sets 1:44 AMOctober 14 · WSW

In the 3D sky

The sky over New York turned towards M30. Drag to look around.

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12:07 PMTue, Oct 13

Drag to look around, pinch or scroll to zoom.

Evening visibility over the year

Height of M30 above the horizon at 10 pm local time on the 15th of each month, from New York.

0°30°60°90°Oct: 25°OctNov: 5°NovDec: -14°DecJan: -37°JanFeb: -60°FebMar: -68°MarApr: -68°AprMay: -49°MayJun: -26°JunJul: -4°JulAug: 14°AugSep: 25°Sep

Facts

TypeGlobular cluster
Brightness (magnitude)7.1
Size in the sky9 arcminutes
ConstellationCapricornus
Position (J2000)21h 40m 22s, −23° 10′ 45″
Other designationsNGC 7099

Hubble’s view

Thousands of mostly white and yellowish stars in a globular cluster.
Hubble often shows only part of a large object. Through binoculars or a small telescope it looks much fainter and smaller. Photo: NASA, ESA/Hubble

Finder charts

A wide field to find the right part of the sky and a closer field with fainter stars. North is up and east on the left.

AquariusCapricornusMicroscopiumPiscis AustrinusM75M73M30NE
50° field, stars to magnitude 5.
M30NE
12° field, stars to magnitude 9.

Nearby Messier objects

Data: OpenNGC (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo: NASA Hubble Messier Catalog, credit as shown. Data sources

How to use this page

Choose your place and a night at the top. The page shows when the object is highest and where to look, the 3D sky with it marked, and its visibility through the year. The finder charts help you star-hop to it with binoculars or a small telescope.

Frequently asked questions

Can I see it with the naked eye?

The brightest Messier objects, such as the Pleiades and the Orion Nebula, show to the eye under a dark sky. Most others need binoculars or a small telescope, and all of them look best far from city lights.

Why does it look grey and not colourful like the photo?

The eye’s colour cells do not work in dim light, so faint objects look grey. Photos collect light for minutes or hours and show colours the eye cannot see.

When is the best time to look?

When the object is high in a dark sky and the Moon is down or a thin crescent. The page gives the best time for the night you choose.

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