Messier 13: The Hercules Globular Cluster

Messier 13, also known as the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules, is a dense, spherical collection of around 300,000 stars located about 22,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Hercules. Spanning 145 light-years, this ancient star cluster is over 11 billion years old, making it one of the oldest objects in the Milky Way. Visible through binoculars, M13 appears as a fuzzy ball of light, but telescopes reveal its dense core in long exposures, revealing countless stars packed into a glowing ball of light. Edmond Halley first discovered it in 1714 and later cataloged by Charles Messier in 1764. M13 is one of the most famous globular clusters, often studied for insights into the early universe and stellar evolution.

Image Acquisition & Processing details:

Equipment:

Imaging Telescope: GSO 12" f/8 Ritchey-Chretien Truss Tube at f5.36 with 0.67x Reducer

Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI294MM Pro

Mount: iOptron CEM70G

Guide scope & Camera: Player One FHD-OAG MINI and Player One Xena-M Camera

Filters: Antlia Ha 3nm 36 mm filters & Antlia LRGB 36mm filters

Accessories: Beelink SER6 Mini PC · Player one Phoenix Wheel 7 x 36mm · Pegasus Powerbox Advanced · ZWO EAF.

Software: PixInsight & Photoshop

Acquisition details:

Dates: 4 Nights of Imaging in May 2024

L: 125×120″ (gain: 120) -5°C bin 2x2

RGB: 31×120″ each (gain: 120) -5°C bin 2x2

Integration: 7 hours 20 minutes.

Darks: 40 | Dark Flats & Flats : 30

Bortle Dark-Sky Scale: 3.00

Location: Emirates Astronomical Observatory

Copyright: PrabhuAstrophotography