Messier 13 – The Great Hercules Cluster

Image Title: My 50th Messier object! Messier 13 - The Great Hercules Cluster

Copyright: Cornelis van Zuilen
CVZ_Astro

Date image was taken: April 27, 2025

Location: Heiloo, The Netherlands
From my balcony

Data Acquisition Method: Personal Telescope Setup

Image Description and Details: Messier 13, also known as the Great Hercules Cluster, holds a special place for me because it was the very first star cluster I ever photographed. Back then, I used my old Omegon telescope and struggled to bring out the colors of the stars clearly. Despite my best efforts, the result was far from what I had hoped for.

Now, with a better camera and my Askar 103APO telescope, I decided to revisit this object. This time, the improvements really paid off. The colors of the individual stars have finally become visible. Messier 13 is one of the brightest and largest globular clusters in the northern sky, containing several hundred thousand stars packed tightly together. Capturing this image also marked a small milestone for me, as it became the 50th Messier object I have photographed!

Equipment Details: Optolong L-Pro Lights:
1hr 30min
30x 180sec

Telescope: Askar 103APO
Camera: ZWO ASI2600MC AIR
Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ6-R
Filter: Optolong L-Pro 2"

Calibration frames:
20 Darks
20 Flats
20 Dark Flats

Bortle 5

Name: Cornelis van Zuilen

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