M3

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M3, one of the 110 objects cataloged in the Messier catalog, is a globular cluster in Canes Venatici.  This is one of the more spectacular globular clusters in the northern hemisphere and is estimated to contain about 500,000 stars.  The cluster is 35 to 40,000 light years distant and has a diameter of about 90 light years.  This cluster is quite bright at magnitude 5.9 and is easily visible in smaller telescopes or binoculars.

Globular clusters are some of the oldest objects in our galaxy and consist mainly of very old white dwarf stars that are gravitationally bound together.  They form more or less a sphere around the core of the galaxy rather than being located in the galactic disk as is the case with most other matter in the galaxy.  Globular clusters are some of the most rewarding visual targets available most especially from dark skies.

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Date:  5/23/2006

Location:  Home

Telescope: 10" LX200 SCT @ f/10

Mount:  AP-1200GTO 

Camera:  Canon 20D, ISO 800

Filters:  IDAS LPS

Exposure Count:  13 @ 120 sec.

Guiding:  Unguided

Post Processing:

Images Plus - Dark calibration, align combine, digital development

NeatImage:  Noise reduction

Photoshop CS2:  Crop, sharpening, levels, color balance

Previous Attempts

5/30/2005

5/30/2004