M13 + Astrodoc Ron Brecher + L-QEF (L-Quad Enhance Filter)
M13
Credit: Astrodoc Ron Brecher
Filters: Optolong L-QEF (L-Quad Enhance Filter)
There are about 150 globular clusters orbiting the main part of the Milky Way, and they are common around other galaxies too. These objects are star clusters of a few hundred thousand to a few million stars and they are very old objects. The Hercules Cluster, M13, is arguably the finest globular cluster visible from the northern hemisphere but lots of people, including me, have other favourites, like M3, M5, and M22. M13 lies about 22,000 light years away from us, and is about 2/3 the width of the full Moon. It contains about 600,000 stars and is about 168 light years across. The night sky would be very interesting from a star in the core of that cluster!
M13 is visible to the naked eye in moderately dark skies, obvious in binoculars, pretty in a small scope and stunning in a big scope. It’s one of my favourite objects to look at through any instrument, and I’ve imaged it several times before, for example in 2021, and again in 2024.
One of the features I always look for at the eyepiece and in images of M13 is a slightly dark propeller shape, which is quite obvious in this image a little below left of centre (North is up in this image). Also note galaxy NGC 6207 to the upper left of M13. I did a separate process of it. Click the pic to see it full size.
Tekkies:
Acquisition, focusing, and control of Sky-Watcher Wave 150i mount and other equipment with N.I.N.A. and Green Swamp Server. Primalucelab 3″ ESATTO focuser, ARCO rotator, GIOTTO flat panel and ALTO cover motor. Equipment control with Primalucelab EAGLE 6 Pro computer. All pre-processing and processing in PixInsight. Acquired from my SkyShed in Guelph. Acquired under above average transparency and seeing and moderate moonlight from May 21-26, 2026.
Sky-Watcher Esprit 120, Player One Poseidon-C Pro camera, Optolong L-Quad Enhance filter.
78 x 5m = 6hr 30m
16 x 1m = 0hr 16m
Total = 6hr 46m
Hope you like it.
