Southern Astro

Adventures in backyard astronomy from the Southern hemisphere

Globular Cluster

Globular clusters are spherical, gravimetrically bound concentrations of generally 100’s to 1000’s of stars which are located in the halos of galaxies, rather than the galactic disc, and orbit the galaxy as satellites at distances of 130,000 ly or more. There are however some globulars which measure into the millions of solar masses such Omega Centauri.

The population of stars in a globular cluster are generally of the same age, although will vary between clusters, and are measured to be among the oldest stars in a galaxy, therefore among the first produced, however their role in galactic formation is poorly understood.

M55 – Sept 2022

Image of M55 taken in September 2022

February 5, 2023 in Globular Cluster, GSO RC10 Truss, M55, Messier, QHY268M, Skywatcher EQ8.

M54 – Aug 2022

M54 imaged in August 2022

February 5, 2023 in Globular Cluster, GSO RC10 Truss, M54, Messier, QHY268M, Skywatcher EQ8.

M4

A quick grab of M4 while waiting for M16 to get to a good position.

July 4, 2021 in Globular Cluster, GSO RC10 Truss, M4, Skywatcher EQ8.

M5

M5 was a quick fill in image in before going to my main target for the evening.

July 2, 2021 in Clusters, Deep Space, Globular Cluster, GSO RC10 Truss, M5, Messier, QHY268M, Skywatcher EQ8.

Omega Centauri 20th June 2015

A second imaging attempt at Omega Centauri

June 21, 2015 in Deep Space, Globular Cluster, Omega Centauri.

Omega Centauri 17th May 2015

Located at a distance of 15,800 ly in the constellation of Centaurus, Omega Centauri is the largest globular cluster in the Milky way galaxy with a diameter of approximately 150 ly and is estimated to contain 10 million stars with a total mass equivalent to 4 million solar masses.

May 24, 2015 in Deep Space, Globular Cluster, Omega Centauri.

Gallery

Current Moon Phase

Waxing Crescent Moon
The moon is currently in AriesThe moon is 4 days old
Distance: 57 earth radii
Ecliptic latitude: 0 degrees
Ecliptic longitude: 6 degrees

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