Observer's guide
About Milky Way Patch
Milky Way Patch (M24) is catalogued as a star cloud in Sagittarius. Its J2000 position is RA 18:16:56.12, Dec -18:30:52.4, corresponding to 274.2 degrees RA and -18.55 degrees Dec. The local catalogue places it about 10,000 light-years away. Its referenced angular extent is approximately 120 by 60 arcminutes.
Observing tips
This is rated as a moderate target at magnitude 4.6. It is associated with summer observing, with midnight placement typically strongest around June. From 52 degrees north its theoretical meridian altitude is about 19.5 degrees; local horizons and the live altitude chart determine the practical window.
Its brightness makes it a practical binocular or small-telescope candidate when it is well above the horizon.
What to expect
The SIMBAD classification for the matched source is As*. The SIMBAD record currently connects it to 54 bibliographic references.
At roughly 120 arcminutes across, it favors a wide-field imaging setup. Use the listed 120 by 60 arcminute extent to check framing, and treat catalogue magnitude as integrated brightness rather than a direct measure of visual contrast.