Overview
M3 is a globular cluster containing 500,000 stars. It formed around 11.4 billion years ago, making it more than twice as old as planet Earth.

Background
City light pollution makes imaging broadband deep sky objects tricky, but M3 is relatively bright so I thought I’d have a go.
I find globular clusters tricky because it’s all too easy to blow out the cores. I want to tackle a globular with my new Askar 130PHQ telescope, and really try to do the core justice.
Imaging details
Date | March and April 2021 |
Location | Bristol, UK (Bortle 8) |
Telescope | Askar FRA400 f/5.6 Quintuplet APO Astrograph |
Camera | ZWO ASI 2600MC-PRO |
Mount | Orion Sirius EQ-G |
Guide | William Optics 32mm; ZWO ASI 120MM Mini |
Control | ASIAIR |
Software | PixInsight, Lightroom |
Filters | No filter: 300 x 120 seconds |
Total exposure time | 10 hours |
Image credit | Lee Pullen |
Source data


Seestar S50
Seestar S50 image coming later…
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