M13 - Hercules Globular Cluster

clusters

M13 – the Hercules Global Cluster (so named as it’s in the constellation Hercules) – contains about 300,000 stars. This object is quite easy to see in small telescopes, but generally not visible with the naked eye. According to NASA’s APOD, near the core of the cluster, upward of 100 stars would be contained within a 3 light year sized cube. Alpha Centauri, by comparison, is the closest star system to our own, at about 4 light years.

This image was taken with a QSI683 and Tak FSQ106. R, G, and B channels each consisted of 18 3-minute exposures.

Resolution ........ 2.101 arcsec/pix
Rotation .......... -137.640 deg
Focal ............. 530.23 mm
Pixel size ........ 5.40 um
Field of view ..... 1d 56' 5.8" x 1d 27' 21.2"
Image center ...... RA: 16 41 38.697  Dec: +36 27 26.62