M13

About image 

The Globular Cluster of Hercules (also known as M 13 from its position in the Messier Catalog, or as NGC 6205) is a globular cluster visible in the constellation of Hercules. It is the brightest globular cluster in the northern hemisphere and is visible even to the naked eye given its apparent magnitude of 5.8. 

Its angular diameter is 23 ', while its real diameter is approximately 165 light years.
M13 contains several hundred thousand stars: around its core, stars are about 500 times more concentrated than around the solar system. 

The age of M 13 has been estimated to be between 12 and 14 billion years. Its distance from Earth is 23,157 light years.
In 1974 a symbolic attempt was made to send a message to other worlds. To celebrate a substantial expansion of Arecibo's 305-meter radio telescope (now unfortunately no longer operational), a coded message of 1,679 bits was transmitted to M13. 

[text adapted from Wikipedia]

Technical data
Optic         GSO RC12 Truss - Aperture 304mm, focal lenght 2432mm, f/8
Mount       10Micron GM2000 HPSII
Camera        ZWO ASI 2600 MM Pro with filter wheel 7 positions
Filters        Astrodon Gen2 E-Serie Tru-Balance 50mm unmounted LRGB  
Guiding system   ZWO OAG-L with guide camera ASI 174MM
Exposure details    L 36x60" bin3 -15C

            R 27x60" bin3 -15C
            G 25x60" bin3 -15C
          B 26x60" bin3 -15C
Total integration  1h54'
Acquisition      Voyager, PHD2
Processing      Pixinsight 1.8, Photoshop CS5
SQM-L       21.4   
Location       Promiod (Aosta Valley, Italy), own remote observatory
Date           27 May 2022

 

© Roberto Marinoni 2019 - All rights reserved