Globular Cluster ... Messier 53
(Click on Picture for larger view)
Added June 25, 2019 ...
Globular Cluster in the Coma Berenices
Messier 53 (aka NGC 5024) is a globular cluster of stars within our own Milky Way Galaxy and is about 58,000 light-years in distance from earth and about 60,000 light-years from the center of the galaxy and contains about 500,000 stars. Most of the stars are first generation types containing no metals at an age of about 12.67 billion years (as compared to the sun which is a 3rd generation star containing metals with an age of 4.6 billion years). I took this picture over two different nights, June 17 and June 24, 2019 around midnight when the cluster was high in the northwestern sky (to the right of the bright star Arcturus).
The Techy Stuff ... For those who want to know ...
Techy Stuff:
Telescope: 11" Celestron Edge HD at f/7
Camera: Altair Hypercam 294C Pro TEC
Sensor Temperature: -5°C (23°F)
Capture software: SharpCap Pro V 3.2
Guiding: PHD 2 (RMS error: 0.42 ... i.e. very good tracking)
Mount: CGX
Mount controls: Celestron PWI V2.1.25
Polar Alignment: QHY Pole Master
Light Frames used: 152 at 30 seconds / Gain: 15,000 ... 1st night
Light Frames used: 60 at 60 seconds / Gain: 15,000 ... 2nd night
Binning: 2x2
Dark Frames: 20
Bias Frames: 20
Flat Frames: None
Filter: None on 1st night / City Light Pollution Suppresson 2nd night
Stacked in PixInsight
Post Processed in Photoshop CC
Seeing Conditions: 8 (0-10, where 0 is total cloud cover)
Moon: Full Moon 1st night / No moon 2nd night
Bortle Light-Pollution zone: 4.5 (can barely see the Milkyway)
Temperature: 77°F 1st night, 84°F 2nd night
Date: June 17 & 24, 2019 from around midnight
Location: Backyard, Savannah GA
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Past Images Taken in the Heavenly Backyard | ||
 Date: April 20, 2018 Telescope: CST 11" at f/10 Camera:Altair Hypercam 183C CMOS at gain 40 20 minute exposure |
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