M13 - The Great Cluster of Hercules

 

     M13 (NGC6205) is a very bright globular star cluster found in the "keystone" of the constellation Hercules.  It is about 26,000 light years away, extends 150 light years across and contains approximately 500,000 stars!  This is definitely a viewable object with naked eyes under very dark skies.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Optics Camera Film Exposure Mount/Guiding Scanning Processing Location Date
10" SCT @ f7.5 Nikon F PMZ1000 30, 20 min G11 with ST4 on GEG Minolta Scan Dual II Levels/Curves in PS; stacked in Picture Window Cottonwood Springs, CA 5/11/02

Comments: Fair seeing.  Guided well.  First composite of 2 images ever tried and seems to have reduced the grain considerably.