Messier 13 – The Great Hercules Cluster

Image Title: M13 Hercules Globular Cluster

Copyright: Copyright: Adam Skrzypek

Date image was taken: May 20, 2025

Location: Poland, Silesian Voivodeship, Lubliniec County

Data Acquisition Method: Personal Telescope Setup

Description and Details: Messier 13, also known as the Great Hercules Cluster, is the largest and most well-known globular cluster in the northern sky. It is located in the constellation Hercules, about 22,200 light-years from Earth. The cluster contains several hundred thousand old stars tightly packed into a spherical structure about 145 light-years in diameter. Its age is estimated at around 11.65 billion years, making it one of the oldest structures in our Milky Way.

Fun fact – just below M13, slightly to the right, lies galaxy IC 4617, located a 553 million light-years from Earth.

Telescope: GSO RC6", Camera: ZWO ASI 071 MC Pro, ZWO EAF, Filter: Astronomik UV/IR Block 2", Mount: iOptron CEM 25P, Control: ASI Air Plus, Guiding: ZWO 30mm Mini Guider Scope + ZWO ASI120MM Mini.
Stack: 70 frames, 180 seconds each, total exposure time: 3.5 hours.

Name: Adam Skrzypek

Website or Facebook Profile: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Skrzypu/