AAPOD2 Image Archives
Messier 13 – The Great Hercules Cluster
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.
M13 Hercules' Diamonds
M13, also known as the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules, is one of the most remarkable objects in the northern sky. Situated in the constellation Hercules, this globular cluster is a densely packed sphere of hundreds of thousands of stars held together by gravity. Its compact core shines brilliantly, while its outer regions extend in a vast halo of fainter stars.
Located approximately 22,200 light-years away from Earth, M13 is one of the brightest and largest globular clusters visible from the Northern Hemisphere. Its age is estimated to be around 12 to 13 billion years old, making it one of the oldest known objects in the Milky Way galaxy. Studying M13 provides astronomers with valuable insights into the formation and evolution of globular clusters, offering a window into the early history of our galaxy.
Hercules Globular Cluster - M13/NGC6205
Image Description and Details : The Globular Cluster of Hercules or Messier 13 or even NGC 6205 is a globular cluster visible in the constellation of Hercules. It is the brightest globular cluster in the northern hemisphere and is also visible to the naked eye. The estimated distance from the solar system is just over 25,000 a.l. Acquisition details: 2 x GSO RC8" Carbon 2 x QHYCCD 183M camera 2 x StarPi (Stellarmate) LRGB Baader Filters LRGB Optolong Filters SkyWatcher N-EQ6 mount iOptron CEM70 mount L bin1x1 137x60s L bin1x1 119x300s R bin2x2 32x60s G bin2x2 32x60s B bin2x2 32x60s R bin2x2 16x300s G bin2x2 16x300s B bin2x2 16x300s For a total of 17 hours and 48 minutes
Copyright: Acquisition by Giosi Amante & Alessandro Pensato Processing by Giosi Amante exclusively with Pixinsight
