Shooting Stars

May 2013 - Spring Globular Clusters:

The beginning of May provided two beautiful warm & clear nights. May 1st & 3rd were dedicated to imaging Globular Clusters M3 and M13. Both nights were perfect for sitting back in my lawn chair and gazing into the starry blackness above!
I should mention: Some of the bonus darkness I enjoy at home is courtesy of a kind and supportive neighbour! When she sees me out setting up my telescope, she makes sure all her outside lights and yard light are shut off for the night. You can't beat neighbours like that!!
I shot both clusters with the same settings, under the same "seeing" conditions, same exposure times and an equal frame size. This provides a direct visual comparison of these two giant star clusters from our distant perspective here on Earth. Both of these clusters are roughly 90 light years diameter but M3 has a hard time competing with M13, as it rests 33,900 light years away. M13 is much closer at only 25,100 light years. M3 may lose a little in quality, but it makes up for it in quantity: M3 has 500,000 stars while M13 only holds 300,000 stars!
Close examination of both clusters reveal a colourful array of bluish to orangey stars.
Look for many 'small' distant galaxies in the peripheral as well.



M3 - Globular Star Cluster in Canes Venatici - 40 x 2.5min exposures = 1hr 40min total exposure @ 800iso

M13 - Globular Star Cluster in Hercules - 40 x 2.5min exposures = 1hr 40mins total exposure @ 800iso