NGC 6397 is a globular cluster located in the constellation Ara. It is one of the closest globular clusters to Earth, situated about 7,200 light-years away. NGC 6397 contains hundreds of thousands of stars, many of which are older and more evolved than those found in younger star clusters. Discovered in 1826 by astronomer James Dunlop, NGC 6397 is notable for its relatively low metallicity, indicating that it formed early in the universe's history. The cluster is approximately 13 billion years old, making it a valuable object for studying the formation and evolution of stars in the early universe.