Cheapskate's Globular Cluster Page

Globular Clusters

Globular clusters are spherical collections of stars. They have round shapes with high central densities and contain from ten thousand to a million stars. They are much older than open clusters and are among the oldest objects in the universe. Most of them are found in the Milky Way's center bulge and outer halo.

Estimates of age, distance and number of stars in globular clusters varies widely.
Learn more about globular clusters here:
http://www.seds.org/messier/glob.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globular_cluster

Click on an image to enlarge.
Click on a constellation name to view a star chart (courtesy Starry Night Software).
If you download and process a raw file please send me your results. As soon as possible I will post your image.
Jump to:

M2
M3
M4
M5
M9
M10

M12
M13
M14
M15
M19
M22

M30
M53
M56
M62
M69
M70

M72
M80
M92
M107
NGC 5053
NGC 5466
NGC 6342

Target

Raw Image

Processed Image

Exposure Data

Lens/Telescope & Camera Used

Download Raw Stack

M2 in Aquarius.
37,500 LY distant.
Size: 16 arc min.
Mag: 6.5
Age: 13 billion years.
# stars: > 29,000.

18 frames,
30 seconds each

500mm
f/5
ISO 1600

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

Dark frames applied. Drizzle processed.

Click to download archived ZIP

8 frames,
30 seconds each

M3 in Canes Venatici.
33,900 LY distant.
Size: 18 arc min.
Mag: 6.2
Age: estimates 5-20 billion years.
# stars: > 500,000.

4 frames,
2 minutes each

500mm
f/5
ISO 400

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 10D

M3 photographed a year later using a Canon XTI. More pixels, more frames and improved processing techniques yields a larger, more detailed image.

31 frames,
1 minute each.

500mm
f/5
ISO 200

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)

M4 in Scorpius.
7,200 LY distant.
Size: 36 arc min.
Mag: 5.6
Age: 13 billion years.
# stars: ?.

20 frames,
20 seconds each.

500mm
f/5
ISO 800

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 10D

Dark frames applied. Drizzle processed.

Click to download archived ZIP

The same frames without drizzle processing.

M4 photographed a year later with a Canon XTI. My neighbors chimney is visible.

2 frames,
1 minute each.

500mm
f/5
ISO 200

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)

This image was made from shorter exposures at higher ISO.

26 frames,
15 seconds each.

500mm
f/5
ISO 1600

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)

M5 in Serpens.
24,500 LY distant.
Size: 23 arc min.
Mag: 5.6
Age: 13 billion years.
# stars: ?.

8 frames,
30 seconds each

500mm
f/5
ISO 800

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 10D

Dark frames applied.

Click to download archived ZIP

The same 8 frames drizzle processed to increase resolution.

Dark frames applied. Drizzle processed.

Click to download archived ZIP

M5 photographed a year later with a Canon XTI.

24 frames,
1 minute each.

500mm
f/5
ISO 200

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)

M9 in Ophiuchus.
25,800 LY distant.
Size: 12 arc min.
Mag: 7.7

34 frames,
30 seconds each.

500mm
f/5
ISO 800

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)

M10 in Ophiuchus.
14,300 LY distant.
Size: 20 arc min.
Mag: 6.6

24 frames,
1 minute each.

500mm
f/5
ISO 200

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)

M12 in Ophiuchus.
16,000 LY distant.
Size: 16 arc min.
Mag: 6.7
Age: 13 billion years.
# stars: ?.

11 frames,
30 seconds each

300mm
f/5.6
ISO 1600

Tamron 70-300mm zoom lens.
Canon 10D

M13 in Hercules.
25,100 LY distant.
Size: 20 arc min.
Mag: 5.8
Age: 14 billion years.
# stars: > 100,000.

24 frames,
20 seconds each

500mm
f/5
ISO 800

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 10D

Dark frame subtracted.

Click to download archived ZIP

M13 photographed a year later with a Canon XTI.

27 frames,
1 minute each

500mm
f/5
ISO 200

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI).

M14 in Ophiuchus.
30,300 LY distant.
Size: 11 arc min.
Mag: 7.6

26 frames,
1 minute each

500mm
f/5
ISO 200

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI).

M15 in Pegasus.
33,600 LY distant.
Size: 18 arc min.
Mag: 6.2

11 frames,
30 seconds each

500mm
f/5
ISO 1600

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

Dark frame subtracted.
Drizzle processed.

Click to download archived ZIP

15 frames,
30 seconds each

500mm
f/5
ISO 400

M19 in Ophiuchus.
28,000 LY distant.
Size: 17 arc min.
Mag: 6.8

29 frames, 30 seconds each.

500mm
f/5
ISO 800

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

M22 in Sagittarius.
10,400 LY distant.
Size: 32 arc min.
Mag: 5.1

29 frames, 30 seconds each.

500mm
f/5
ISO 800

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

M30 in Capricornus.
26,100 LY distant.
Size: 12 arc min.
Mag: 7.2

15 frames,
30 seconds each

500mm
f/5
ISO 1600

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

No dark frames applied.

M53 in Coma Berenices.
58,000 LY distant.
Size: 13 arc min.
Mag: 7.6

16 frames,
1 minute each

500mm
f/5
ISO 800

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 10D

No dark frames applied.

M53 photographed a year later with a Canon XTI.

24 frames,
1 minute each

500mm
f/5
ISO 200

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

M56 in Lyra.
33,000 LY distant.
Size: 9 arc min.
Mag: 8.3

15 frames,
30 seconds each

500mm
f/5
ISO 800

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

No dark frames applied.

M62 in Ophiuchus.
22,500 LY distant.
Size: 15 arc min.
Mag: 6.5

30 frames,
30 seconds each

500mm
f/5
ISO 800

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

M69 in Sagittarius.
29,700 LY distant.
Size: 10 arc min.
Mag: 7.6

40 frames,
30 seconds each

500mm
f/5
ISO 800

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

M70 in Sagittarius.
29,300 LY distant.
Size: 8 arc min.
Mag: 7.9

27 frames,
30 seconds each

500mm
f/5
ISO 800

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

M72 in Aquarius.
55,400 LY distant.
Size: 6.6 arc min.
Mag: 9.3

16 frames,
30 seconds each

500mm
f/5
ISO 800

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

No dark frames applied.

M80 in Scorpius.
32,600 LY distant.
Size: 10 arc min.
Mag: 7.3

8 frames,
1 minute each

500mm
f/5
ISO 800

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 10D

Dark frame subtracted.
Drizzle processed.

Reshooting this target under better sky conditions and using a better camera gave superior results.

33 frames,
30 seconds each

500mm
f/5
ISO 800

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

M92 in Hercules.
26,700 LY distant.
Size: 14 arc min.
Mag: 6.4

9 frames,
30 seconds each

500mm
f/5
ISO 800

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 10D

Dark frame subtracted.

Reshooting this target under better sky conditions and using a better camera gave superior results.

24 frames,
30 seconds each

500mm
f/5
ISO 200

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

Dark frame subtracted.

M107 in Ophiuchus.
20,900 LY distant.
Size: 13 arc min.
Mag: 7.9

22 frames,
30 seconds each

500mm
f/5
ISO 800

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

NGC 5053 in Coma Berenices.
53,500 LY distant.
Size: 10.5 arc min.
Mag: 9.5

48 frames,
30 seconds each

500mm
f/5
ISO 1600

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

NGC 5466 in Bootes.
47,000 LY distant.
Size: 5 arc min.
Mag: 10

30 frames,
1 minute each

500mm
f/5
ISO 1600

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

NGC 6342 in Ophiuchus.
28,000 LY distant.
Size: 4.4 arc min.
Mag: 9.5

28 frames,
30 seconds each

500mm
f/5
ISO 1600

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

Contact Me

Globular Clusters Globular clusters are spherical collections of stars. They have round shapes with high central densities and contain from ten thousand to a million stars. They are much older than open clusters and are among the oldest objects in the universe. Most of them are found in the Milky Way's center bulge and outer halo. Estimates of age, distance and number of stars in globular clusters varies widely. Learn more about globular clusters here: http://www.seds.org/messier/glob.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globular_cluster Click on an image to enlarge. Click on a constellation name to view a star chart (courtesy Starry Night Software). If you download and process a raw file please send me your results. As soon as possible I will post your image. Jump to:
M2 M3 M4 M5 M9 M10	M12 M13 M14 M15 M19 M22	M30 M53 M56 M62 M69 M70	M72 M80 M92 M107 NGC 5053 NGC 5466 NGC 6342

Target	Raw Image	Processed Image	Exposure Data	Lens/Telescope & Camera Used	Download Raw Stack
M2 in Aquarius. 37,500 LY distant. Size: 16 arc min. Mag: 6.5 Age: 13 billion years. # stars: > 29,000.			18 frames, 30 seconds each 500mm f/5 ISO 1600	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 400D (XTi)	Dark frames applied. Drizzle processed. Click to download archived ZIP
			8 frames, 30 seconds each
M3 in Canes Venatici. 33,900 LY distant. Size: 18 arc min. Mag: 6.2 Age: estimates 5-20 billion years. # stars: > 500,000.			4 frames, 2 minutes each 500mm f/5 ISO 400	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 10D
M3 photographed a year later using a Canon XTI. More pixels, more frames and improved processing techniques yields a larger, more detailed image.			31 frames, 1 minute each. 500mm f/5 ISO 200	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 400D (XTI)
M4 in Scorpius. 7,200 LY distant. Size: 36 arc min. Mag: 5.6 Age: 13 billion years. # stars: ?.			20 frames, 20 seconds each. 500mm f/5 ISO 800	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 10D	Dark frames applied. Drizzle processed. Click to download archived ZIP
	The same frames without drizzle processing.
M4 photographed a year later with a Canon XTI. My neighbors chimney is visible.			2 frames, 1 minute each. 500mm f/5 ISO 200	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 400D (XTI)
This image was made from shorter exposures at higher ISO.			26 frames, 15 seconds each. 500mm f/5 ISO 1600	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 400D (XTI)
M5 in Serpens. 24,500 LY distant. Size: 23 arc min. Mag: 5.6 Age: 13 billion years. # stars: ?.			8 frames, 30 seconds each 500mm f/5 ISO 800	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 10D	Dark frames applied. Click to download archived ZIP
	The same 8 frames drizzle processed to increase resolution.				Dark frames applied. Drizzle processed. Click to download archived ZIP
M5 photographed a year later with a Canon XTI.			24 frames, 1 minute each. 500mm f/5 ISO 200	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 400D (XTI)
M9 in Ophiuchus. 25,800 LY distant. Size: 12 arc min. Mag: 7.7			34 frames, 30 seconds each. 500mm f/5 ISO 800	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 400D (XTI)
M10 in Ophiuchus. 14,300 LY distant. Size: 20 arc min. Mag: 6.6			24 frames, 1 minute each. 500mm f/5 ISO 200	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 400D (XTI)
M12 in Ophiuchus. 16,000 LY distant. Size: 16 arc min. Mag: 6.7 Age: 13 billion years. # stars: ?.			11 frames, 30 seconds each 300mm f/5.6 ISO 1600	Tamron 70-300mm zoom lens. Canon 10D
M13 in Hercules. 25,100 LY distant. Size: 20 arc min. Mag: 5.8 Age: 14 billion years. # stars: > 100,000.			24 frames, 20 seconds each 500mm f/5 ISO 800	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 10D	Dark frame subtracted. Click to download archived ZIP
M13 photographed a year later with a Canon XTI.			27 frames, 1 minute each 500mm f/5 ISO 200	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 400D (XTI).
M14 in Ophiuchus. 30,300 LY distant. Size: 11 arc min. Mag: 7.6			26 frames, 1 minute each 500mm f/5 ISO 200	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 400D (XTI).
M15 in Pegasus. 33,600 LY distant. Size: 18 arc min. Mag: 6.2			11 frames, 30 seconds each 500mm f/5 ISO 1600	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 400D (XTi)	Dark frame subtracted. Drizzle processed. Click to download archived ZIP
			15 frames, 30 seconds each 500mm f/5 ISO 400
M19 in Ophiuchus. 28,000 LY distant. Size: 17 arc min. Mag: 6.8			29 frames, 30 seconds each. 500mm f/5 ISO 800	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 400D (XTi)
M22 in Sagittarius. 10,400 LY distant. Size: 32 arc min. Mag: 5.1			29 frames, 30 seconds each. 500mm f/5 ISO 800	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 400D (XTi)
M30 in Capricornus. 26,100 LY distant. Size: 12 arc min. Mag: 7.2			15 frames, 30 seconds each 500mm f/5 ISO 1600	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 400D (XTi)	No dark frames applied.
M53 in Coma Berenices. 58,000 LY distant. Size: 13 arc min. Mag: 7.6			16 frames, 1 minute each 500mm f/5 ISO 800	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 10D	No dark frames applied.
M53 photographed a year later with a Canon XTI.			24 frames, 1 minute each 500mm f/5 ISO 200	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 400D (XTi)
M56 in Lyra. 33,000 LY distant. Size: 9 arc min. Mag: 8.3			15 frames, 30 seconds each 500mm f/5 ISO 800	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 400D (XTi)	No dark frames applied.
M62 in Ophiuchus. 22,500 LY distant. Size: 15 arc min. Mag: 6.5			30 frames, 30 seconds each 500mm f/5 ISO 800	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 400D (XTi)
M69 in Sagittarius. 29,700 LY distant. Size: 10 arc min. Mag: 7.6			40 frames, 30 seconds each 500mm f/5 ISO 800	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 400D (XTi)
M70 in Sagittarius. 29,300 LY distant. Size: 8 arc min. Mag: 7.9			27 frames, 30 seconds each 500mm f/5 ISO 800	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 400D (XTi)
M72 in Aquarius. 55,400 LY distant. Size: 6.6 arc min. Mag: 9.3			16 frames, 30 seconds each 500mm f/5 ISO 800	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 400D (XTi)	No dark frames applied.
M80 in Scorpius. 32,600 LY distant. Size: 10 arc min. Mag: 7.3			8 frames, 1 minute each 500mm f/5 ISO 800	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 10D	Dark frame subtracted. Drizzle processed.
Reshooting this target under better sky conditions and using a better camera gave superior results.			33 frames, 30 seconds each 500mm f/5 ISO 800	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 400D (XTi)
M92 in Hercules. 26,700 LY distant. Size: 14 arc min. Mag: 6.4			9 frames, 30 seconds each 500mm f/5 ISO 800	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 10D	Dark frame subtracted.
Reshooting this target under better sky conditions and using a better camera gave superior results.			24 frames, 30 seconds each 500mm f/5 ISO 200	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 400D (XTi)	Dark frame subtracted.
M107 in Ophiuchus. 20,900 LY distant. Size: 13 arc min. Mag: 7.9			22 frames, 30 seconds each 500mm f/5 ISO 800	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 400D (XTi)
NGC 5053 in Coma Berenices. 53,500 LY distant. Size: 10.5 arc min. Mag: 9.5			48 frames, 30 seconds each 500mm f/5 ISO 1600	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 400D (XTi)
NGC 5466 in Bootes. 47,000 LY distant. Size: 5 arc min. Mag: 10			30 frames, 1 minute each 500mm f/5 ISO 1600	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 400D (XTi)
NGC 6342 in Ophiuchus. 28,000 LY distant. Size: 4.4 arc min. Mag: 9.5			28 frames, 30 seconds each 500mm f/5 ISO 1600	Celestron C102 refractor Canon 400D (XTi)