NGC 6356 is a globular cluster located in the constellation Ophiuchus.

It is designated as a II in the Shapley–Sawyer Concentration Class and was discovered by the German-born British astronomer William Herschel on 18 June 1784.

The star cluster is more dense and bright towards the middle.

It is at a distance of 49,600 light years away from Earth.

[2][3][4][5][6] The cluster is relatively metal-rich and therefore has a large amount of interstellar dust in its core.