Hercules Globular Cluster

A short 2020 test frame on M13

TypeCluster ConstellationHercules SeasonSummer PaletteNatural color Integration time10m Captured2020

A compact 2020 M13 test frame from the archive, kept alongside the deeper 2021 revision.

What am I looking at?: The Hercules Globular Cluster is a dense ball of hundreds of thousands of stars bound by gravity.
How far away is it?: About 22,200 light-years away.
Where is it in the sky?: In Hercules, between the bright stars Vega and Arcturus.
Why does it matter?: One of the finest globular clusters visible from the northern hemisphere.
When is the best time to photograph it?: Summer when Hercules is high in the evening sky.

Target Planner

When to image this target

Cluster in Hercules; best planned for June through August from New Jersey.

Best season June through August

Summer targets often improve later at night as the Milky Way climbs higher.

Good from NJ Late spring through early autumn

Assumes a New Jersey backyard horizon and evening imaging.

Object type Cluster

Stable seeing helps star color, roundness, and tight cluster detail.

Constellation Hercules

M13 is listed here in Hercules.

Moon tolerance More forgiving than faint nebulae or galaxies.

Current frame: Natural color / Broadband OSC.

Live altitude, moon, and filter guidance

Planning from Sewell, NJ

Check your location Enter ZIP in planner

Use the full planner to enter a ZIP code, choose a date, and compare the target from your sky.

Planning values are approximate and update in your browser.

Planning site Sewell, NJ 39.7700, -75.1400

Current altitude ...

Based on the current time.

Green marks usable dark-sky altitude.

Next transit ...

Next upper transit.

Rise / set ...

Approximate horizon crossing.

Moon now ...

Moon phase and altitude.

My gear vs this target

10m Total integration

Optolong L-Pro 2 Channels

Channel	Frames	Time
Optolong L-Pro 2	2 x 300s	10m

Equipment used: From my current rig
Mount: iOptron CEM60
Telescope: Explore Scientific FCD100 127mm Carbon Fiber Triplet APO
Camera: ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
Filters: Chroma 36mm Ha, OIII, SII, and LRGB (ZWO EFW 7×36mm)
Focuser / rotator: MoonLite NiteCrawler
Reducer: Starizona Apex ED 0.65×
Guiding: ZWO off-axis guider + ASI290MM Mini
Control / power: PrimaLuceLab Eagle 4S, Powerwerx PSU, Bioenno field battery, and MEGAbox