Observer's guide
About NGC 6694
NGC 6694 (M26) is catalogued as an open cluster in Scutum. Its J2000 position is RA 18:45:18.66, Dec -09:23:01.0, corresponding to 281.3171 degrees RA and -9.3861 degrees Dec. The local catalogue places it about 5,000 light-years away. Its referenced angular extent is approximately 7.1 by 7.1 arcminutes.
Observing tips
StarWatchr rates this as a moderate target at magnitude 8. It is associated with summer observing, with midnight placement typically strongest around June. From 52 degrees north its theoretical meridian altitude is about 28.6 degrees; local horizons and the live altitude chart determine the practical window.
A small telescope under reasonably dark skies is a good starting point; use the live altitude chart to choose its highest point.
What to expect
The SIMBAD classification for the matched source is OpC. A published radial velocity value is -10.2 km/s. The SIMBAD record currently connects it to 113 bibliographic references.
At roughly 7.1 arcminutes across, it benefits from a narrower field and adequate image scale. Use the listed 7.1 by 7.1 arcminute extent to check framing, and treat catalogue magnitude as integrated brightness rather than a direct measure of visual contrast.
