| GLOBULAR STAR CLUSTERS (CLICK ON THUMBNAIL IMAGE FOR FULL-SIZE VIEW) |
M-3 (NGC-5272): Located in the constellation of Canes Venatici (The Hunting Dogs), M-3
is one of the finest globular clusters in the spring sky. Discovered by Messier in 1764, it
has a visual size of approximately 12 minutes of arc, which at its estimated distance of
35,000 light years corresponds to an actual diameter of 220 light years. This cluster con-
tains over 140,000 stars.
NOTE: The image at the right is the "FIRST LIGHT" image from Land of Oz Observatory, using
the new Orion "StarShoot" color CCD camera. This image is an integration of five 20 second
exposures through an 80mm f/7.5 ED Apochromatic Refractor, captured in Maxim Essentials with
further post-processing in Photoshop CS. RIGHT IMAGE: Shows the result of almost 1 year's
experience with the CCD camera. This is an integration of twenty-five 30 sec. exposures thru the
same telescope. More exposure time, more data, better focus = better image!
is one of the finest globular clusters in the spring sky. Discovered by Messier in 1764, it
has a visual size of approximately 12 minutes of arc, which at its estimated distance of
35,000 light years corresponds to an actual diameter of 220 light years. This cluster con-
tains over 140,000 stars.
NOTE: The image at the right is the "FIRST LIGHT" image from Land of Oz Observatory, using
the new Orion "StarShoot" color CCD camera. This image is an integration of five 20 second
exposures through an 80mm f/7.5 ED Apochromatic Refractor, captured in Maxim Essentials with
further post-processing in Photoshop CS. RIGHT IMAGE: Shows the result of almost 1 year's
experience with the CCD camera. This is an integration of twenty-five 30 sec. exposures thru the
same telescope. More exposure time, more data, better focus = better image!
M-13 (NGC-6205): Located in the constellation of Hercules, M-13 is the finest globular
cluster in the northern skies. It was discovered in 1714 by Charles Messier. Its visual size is
approximately 17 minutes of arc, which at its estimated distance of 21,000 light years
corresponds to an actual diameter of 160 light years. This spectacular cluster contains over
500,000 stars.
NOTE: This image was captured on 6/27/06, and is an integration of twenty-five 30 second
exposures through an 80mm f/7.5 ED Apochromatic Refractor using the Orion "StarShoot"
color CCD camera. The image was captured and processed in Maxim DL Essentials, with
further post-processing in Photoshop CS.
cluster in the northern skies. It was discovered in 1714 by Charles Messier. Its visual size is
approximately 17 minutes of arc, which at its estimated distance of 21,000 light years
corresponds to an actual diameter of 160 light years. This spectacular cluster contains over
500,000 stars.
NOTE: This image was captured on 6/27/06, and is an integration of twenty-five 30 second
exposures through an 80mm f/7.5 ED Apochromatic Refractor using the Orion "StarShoot"
color CCD camera. The image was captured and processed in Maxim DL Essentials, with
further post-processing in Photoshop CS.
M-92 (NGC-6341): The "other" globular cluster in Hercules. Although overshadowed by
the spectacular M-13, this cluster would be a considered a showpiece were it by itself.
It was discovered by J.E.Bode in 1777. M-92 is only 9 degrees northeast of M-13. This
cluster is much more compressed than M-13, having a bright, dense, blazing core which
is equalled by few other globulars.
NOTE: This image was captured on 9/25/06, and is an integration of thirty 30 second
exposures through an 80mm f/7.5 ED Apochromatic Refractor. The images were captured
in Maxim DL Essentials, with further post-processing in Photoshop CS.
the spectacular M-13, this cluster would be a considered a showpiece were it by itself.
It was discovered by J.E.Bode in 1777. M-92 is only 9 degrees northeast of M-13. This
cluster is much more compressed than M-13, having a bright, dense, blazing core which
is equalled by few other globulars.
NOTE: This image was captured on 9/25/06, and is an integration of thirty 30 second
exposures through an 80mm f/7.5 ED Apochromatic Refractor. The images were captured
in Maxim DL Essentials, with further post-processing in Photoshop CS.
M-22 (NGC-6656): Located just above the "teapot" in Sagittarius, M-22 is a glorious star
cluster, one of the 5 brightest in the northern sky. In total light, M-22 ranks third among all
known globulars, exceeded only by 47 Tucanae and Omega Centauri. Visually it is almost
18 minutes of arc in diameter. This is one of the closest globulars, being only about 10,000
light years distant. Its actual diameter is over 60 light years.
NOTE: This image was captured on 9/25/06, and is an integration of thirty 20 second
exposures through an 80mm f/7.5 ED Apochromatic Refractor. The images were captured
in Maxim DL Essentials, with further post-processing in Photoshop CS.
cluster, one of the 5 brightest in the northern sky. In total light, M-22 ranks third among all
known globulars, exceeded only by 47 Tucanae and Omega Centauri. Visually it is almost
18 minutes of arc in diameter. This is one of the closest globulars, being only about 10,000
light years distant. Its actual diameter is over 60 light years.
NOTE: This image was captured on 9/25/06, and is an integration of thirty 20 second
exposures through an 80mm f/7.5 ED Apochromatic Refractor. The images were captured
in Maxim DL Essentials, with further post-processing in Photoshop CS.
M-28 (NGC-6626): Another bright globular star cluster in Sagittarius. It is easily found,
being just .8 degrees SE of Lambda Sagittarii. It differs from M-22 in that it is very dense
and compact, similar to M-92 in Hercules. M-28 has a visual size of approximately 6 minutes
of arc, which at its distance of 19,000 light years corresponds to an actual diameter of
65 light years.
NOTE: This image was captured on the evening of 7/24/06, and is an integration of five 40
second exposures through an 80mm f/7.5 ED Apochromatic Refractor. The images were
captured in Maxim DL Essentials, and post-processed using Photoshop CS.
being just .8 degrees SE of Lambda Sagittarii. It differs from M-22 in that it is very dense
and compact, similar to M-92 in Hercules. M-28 has a visual size of approximately 6 minutes
of arc, which at its distance of 19,000 light years corresponds to an actual diameter of
65 light years.
NOTE: This image was captured on the evening of 7/24/06, and is an integration of five 40
second exposures through an 80mm f/7.5 ED Apochromatic Refractor. The images were
captured in Maxim DL Essentials, and post-processed using Photoshop CS.
M-15 (NGC-7078): Located in the constellation Pegasus, M-15 was discovered in 1746 by
Maraldi. It is easily located, being just 4 degrees NW of Epsilon Pegasi. Visually it is about
10 minutes of arc in diameter. At its estimated distance of 39,000 light years, this would
correspond to an actual diameter of 130 light years. Its total visual magnitude is 6.5.
NOTE: This image was captured on 7/24/06 and is an integration of ten 60 second
exposures through an 80mm f/7.5 ED Apochromatic Refractor. The images were captured
and processed in Maxim DL Essentials, with further post-processing in Photoshop CS.
Maraldi. It is easily located, being just 4 degrees NW of Epsilon Pegasi. Visually it is about
10 minutes of arc in diameter. At its estimated distance of 39,000 light years, this would
correspond to an actual diameter of 130 light years. Its total visual magnitude is 6.5.
NOTE: This image was captured on 7/24/06 and is an integration of ten 60 second
exposures through an 80mm f/7.5 ED Apochromatic Refractor. The images were captured
and processed in Maxim DL Essentials, with further post-processing in Photoshop CS.
 |
M-79 (NGC-1904): A small globular cluster located in the constellation of Lepus, the Hare.
It was discovered by Mechain in 1780. It lies about 4 degrees south of Beta Leporis. It is not
one of the more brilliant globulars, and becomes impressive only in larger telescopes. An 8 to
10 inch telescope will begin to resolve the outer edges into a hazy sprinkling of 14th magnitude
stars. Visually, M-79 is approximately 7 minutes of arc in diameter, which at its estimated
distance of 50,000 light years corresponds to an actual diameter of about 110 light years.
NOTE: This image was obtained on the evening of 1/25/07 and is an integration of thirty 30 sec.
exposures through the 80mm APO refractor. The images were captured and combined in
Maxim DL Essentials, with post-processing in Photoshop CS.
It was discovered by Mechain in 1780. It lies about 4 degrees south of Beta Leporis. It is not
one of the more brilliant globulars, and becomes impressive only in larger telescopes. An 8 to
10 inch telescope will begin to resolve the outer edges into a hazy sprinkling of 14th magnitude
stars. Visually, M-79 is approximately 7 minutes of arc in diameter, which at its estimated
distance of 50,000 light years corresponds to an actual diameter of about 110 light years.
NOTE: This image was obtained on the evening of 1/25/07 and is an integration of thirty 30 sec.
exposures through the 80mm APO refractor. The images were captured and combined in
Maxim DL Essentials, with post-processing in Photoshop CS.
M-5 (NGC-5904): A wonderful globular cluster in Serpens (the serpent). It lies a little less than
8 degrees SW of Alpha Serpentis, and 20 arcminutes NNW of the double star 5 Serpentis. M-5
is one of the great show objects of the summer sky, ranking with M-13 and M-3 as one of the
three finest globular clusters in the northern sky. M-5 was discovered in 1705 by German
astronomer Gottfrid Kirch. Visually, M-5 is a large cluster, measuring about 13 arcminutes in
diameter. At its calculated distance of 26,000 light years, this corresponds to an actual diameter
of 120 light years. Spectroscopic studies reveal that M-5 is one of the most ancient globular
clusters in our galaxy, probably about 10 billion years old.
NOTE: This image was obtained on the morning of April 16, 2007, and is an integration of
twenty-five 30 second exposures through an 80mm f/7.5 ED APO refractor. The image was
captured using Maxim DL Essentials, and processed using Nebulosity v.1.5, with further post-
processing in Photoshop CS.
8 degrees SW of Alpha Serpentis, and 20 arcminutes NNW of the double star 5 Serpentis. M-5
is one of the great show objects of the summer sky, ranking with M-13 and M-3 as one of the
three finest globular clusters in the northern sky. M-5 was discovered in 1705 by German
astronomer Gottfrid Kirch. Visually, M-5 is a large cluster, measuring about 13 arcminutes in
diameter. At its calculated distance of 26,000 light years, this corresponds to an actual diameter
of 120 light years. Spectroscopic studies reveal that M-5 is one of the most ancient globular
clusters in our galaxy, probably about 10 billion years old.
NOTE: This image was obtained on the morning of April 16, 2007, and is an integration of
twenty-five 30 second exposures through an 80mm f/7.5 ED APO refractor. The image was
captured using Maxim DL Essentials, and processed using Nebulosity v.1.5, with further post-
processing in Photoshop CS.