M13- Astronomy and astrophotography CCD camera images



27/05/2005
Object name: M13 Hercules cluster
Popular name: Hercules cluster
Object type: Globular Cluster
Magnitude: 0
Size: 20 0
Position angle: 0
Classification: V
Apparent RA: 16 41 41.5 Apparent Dec: +36 27 39
Constellation: Hercules

M13 - The Great Cluster in Hecules is one of the finest globular clusters in the northern skies. At this time of year, it does not get properly dark - and the darkest parts of the night are past midnight, so its best to aim for the brighter DSOs. Before testing Artemis on this target, I paid extra attention to my collimation as I find globular clusters very senstive to such things.

Frames captured in ArtemisCapture and saved as FITS. Stacked in registax 3 and saved as FITS. Iris used to co-register all frames and scale the colour exposures and create a tricolour PSD. Photoshop CS2 used to combine luminance FITS and colour image with multiple LRGB layering. Shorter L exposures used to reduce star bloat.

Exposure Details :

14x60s on 200mm @ F5 with ART429
14x10s on 200mm @ F5 with ART429
3x180s on 200mm @ F5 with ART429
Blue 4x40s on 200mm @ F5 with ART429
Green 4x40s on 200mm @ F5 with ART429
Red 4x40s on 200mm @ F5 with ART429

Curdridge Observatory, Southampton,UK