Messier 13, often called the Great Hercules Cluster, is one of the most prominent and best-known globular clusters in the northern sky. Located about 22,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Hercules, this ancient stellar swarm contains several hundred thousand stars packed into a sphere roughly 145 light-years in diameter. At the cluster’s dense core, stars are separated by just a fraction of a light-year, creating a glittering core easily visible in amateur telescopes.

This image captures the cluster's brilliance and symmetry, as well as subtle color variations in its aging stellar population. With stars ranging from hot blue stragglers to cooler red giants, M13 offers a glimpse into the early history of our galaxy. Careful exposure and processing bring out both the dense center and the more diffuse outer halo of this remarkable galactic fossil.