M3

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Globular cluster in Canes Venatici


About this Object

At a distance of about 33,900 light years, M3 is further away than the center of our Galaxy, the Milky Way, but still shines at magnitude 6.2, as its absolute magnitude is about -8.93, corresponding to a luminosity of about 300,000 times that of our sun. Messier 3 is one of the most outstanding globular clusters, containing an estimated half million stars. It is famous for the large number of variable stars discovered in it. Discovered in 1764 by Charles Messier, M3 was first resolved into stars and recognized as cluster by William Herschel around 1784.

More informations are available at the seds.org website


Technical Data

Optics

130 mm f/6.4 Astro-Physics EDF Refractor

Mount

Astro-Physics AP 900GTO.

Camera SBIG ST-10XE.
Filters SBIG CFW8A.With Astrodon LRGB Ha filters
Focuser Robofocus focuser and Focusmax software
Dates April 2007.
Location Lentin Observatory
Exposure RGB = R:235,G:195,B:255 minutes.bin1. Scale 1.69^s/pixel
Acquisition Image data acquired remotely using ACP5 Observatory control software., MaxIm DL 4
Processing MaxIm DL 4, Photoshop CS2, Registar,
   

Click here to look at my April 2006 M3 previous attempt


All content are copyright Antoine Vergara