Globular Cluster M3 |
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| M3, the third entry in the famous Messier
catalog of deep sky objects, is one of the best examples of
globular clusters. It contains about a half million stars, and
is famous for a large number of variable stars discovered within
it. It has one of the densest core regions for a globular
cluster, with 50% of its total mass within its central 22
light-years. This object is pleasing both photographically and
visually, and can be observed with moderately-sized telescopes
even from light-polluted locations. It lies in the constellation
Canes Venatici, or the Hunting Dogs, which is better known for
its galaxies. M3 is comparatively bright as far as deep space objects are concerned, and for this reason satisfying results can be obtained when shooting this with short exposures from light-polluted locations. |
| Object: M3 |
| Constellation: Canes Venatici |
| When Visible: March - June |
| Distance: 34,000 Light-years |
| Date: May 2020 |
| Location: West Chester, Ohio |
| Exposure Details: 6 x 5 minutes, binned 1x1 |
| Equipment Used: TMB-152 (6" Apochromatic refractor) on an Astro-Physics AP1200 GTOmount. SBIG ST-2000XCM camera with IDAS LP2 filter. |
| Acquisition Software : MaximDL |
| Processing Software: MaximDL, Adobe Photoshop CS, GradientXterminator Plug-in, IrFanView |
| Personal Notes: M3 is "accidentally" one of my most imaged objects. I imaged it in 2008, and when I took this most recent image I did so because I thought I it was another globular, M5, that I had imaged in 2008. M3 is also the first DSO I shot in color shortly after acquiring my color filter wheel. |
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Prior versions: From 2004.. This was my first ever RGB shot after getting a color filter wheel and filters. Takahashi FS-102 on a Takahashi EM200 Temma-II mount. Camera was an SBIG ST-7E with Custom-Scientific LRGB filters. Acquired in West Chester, Ohio. From 2008.. Takahashi FSQ-106N operating at f/8 with an Extender-Q on an Astro-Physics AP1200GTO mount. Camera was an SBIG ST-10XMEI with 5-position filter wheel and Astrodon LRGB filters. Externally guided with a Borg 45ED and Meade DSI Pro. Acquired in West Chester, Ohio. |