M 13 Globular Cluster in Hercules

M 13 also known as the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules is a very bright magnitude 5.8 dense cluster of over 100,000 stars that is easily visible with binoculars and small telescopes. It is estimated to be 11.7 billion years old and is located 23 thousand light years from the Sun and is 145 light years in diameter.

• Location/Date: Gainesville FL, May 29, 2021
• Telescope/focuser: Astro-Tech 10" Ritchey Chretien with Moonlite CSL focuser and Hi Res Stepper Motor/Pegasus controller
• Camera/filters: QHY268M with Astrodon RGB filters
• Guider: QHY off axis guider M; Lodestar X2 camera
• Mount: Astro-Physics 1100GTO
• Image Acquisition/Guiding Software: N.I.N.A./PHD2
• Image Processing: PixInsight; Photoshop
• Captures: 100s subframes (2x2); RGB 11 each