NGC 6144 is a globular cluster in the constellation Scorpius, located almost exactly 1° away from its brighter counterpart globular cluster Messier 4. It is relatively close to and is partially obscured by the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex. The cluster has a very low core stellar density for a globular cluster and harbors a handful of X-ray radiation sources.

200/250mm - 8" (6/27/81): faint, small. A mag 12 star is at the SW end but no other resolution. Located 40' NW of Antares.

300/350mm - 13.1" (6/18/85): a dozen very faint stars are resolved at 220x over haze. Includes a string of stars to the SE.

13.1" (6/19/82): just resolves in steady moments into perhaps 15 very faint stars over haze. Otherwise the globular is very lively and mottled.

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/6/86): about 20 stars mag 12-14 resolved at 286x. The brightest mag 12 star is at the west edge. Located 37' NW of Antares. This globular is about 30,000 light years away or 5 times the distance of nearby M4.