47 Tucanae

Image: ESO/M.-R. Cioni/VISTA Magellanic Cloud survey

47 Tucanae finder map.

Finder map for 47 Tucanae

A premier ‘showpiece’ object for the Southern Hemisphere, analogous to the Hercules Cluster (M13) or Andromeda Galaxy (M31) for northern observers. It is a bucket-list target for all amateur astronomers. A Southern Hemisphere object. Not visible from mid-northern latitudes. Requires a clear southern horizon for lower norther latitudes Resolving the extremely dense core requires large aperture, high magnification, and excellent atmospheric seeing.

Finder scope & binocular view of 47 Tucanae

Property	Value
Common names	47 Tuc, NGC 104
Catalog names	C 106, NGC 104, Mel 1
Type	Stellar Cluster
Subtype	Globular Cluster
Coordinates	0h 24m 05.36s, -72° 04’ 53.20”
Season	September - November
Best month	October
Beginner friendly	Yes
Visual reward	High
Filters required	None
LP tolerance	High
Minimum equipment	Naked eye
Optimal equipment	Small telescope
Magnitude	4.0
Size	50.0 arcminutes x 50.0 arcminutes
Constellation	Tucana

Observation Notes

Naked Eye

Appears as a moderately bright, fuzzy star west of the Small Magellanic Cloud. Under dark southern skies it is clearly non-stellar.

Binoculars

A bright, large, circular nebulous patch with a strongly condensed center. The object is unmistakable, though individual stars are not resolved.

Small Telescope

A brilliant ball of unresolved light with an intensely bright, concentrated core. The outer edges may show a hint of granularity or sparkle with averted vision.

Medium Telescope

Resolves into a spectacular swarm of tiny pinprick stars around the periphery, while the dense core remains a blazing, unresolved mass.

Large Telescope

Reveals an extraordinarily rich and three-dimensional star field, with extensive resolution across most of the cluster. The central core, however, remains intensely condensed and only partially granular rather than fully resolved, even at large apertures.

Observing 47 Tucanae from your latitude

From mid-southern latitudes (~45°S), 47 Tucanae reaches a maximum altitude of about 63° above the southern horizon and is circumpolar — it never sets, staying above the horizon all night, best placed September - November.

Your latitude	Max altitude	Hours above horizon
60°N (≈ Oslo, Helsinki, Anchorage)	Below horizon	Never rises
50°N (≈ London, Prague, Vancouver)	Below horizon	Never rises
40°N (≈ Madrid, New York, Beijing)	Below horizon	Never rises
30°N (≈ Cairo, Houston, Delhi)	Below horizon	Never rises
20°N (≈ Honolulu, Mexico City, Mumbai)	Below horizon	Never rises
10°N (≈ Chennai, Bangalore, Bangkok)	8°	7h 53m
0° (≈ Quito, Nairobi, Singapore)	18°	12h 15m
20°S (≈ Rio de Janeiro, Antananarivo, Alice Springs)	38°	Circumpolar (24h)
35°S (≈ Sydney, Cape Town, Buenos Aires)	53°	Circumpolar (24h)
45°S (≈ Christchurch, Hobart, Puerto Montt)	63°	Circumpolar (24h)

Altitudes and durations are geometric, computed for each latitude, independent of date. Set your location below for tonight's exact rise, transit, and set times.