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M13 - Great Hercules Cluster

CATALOG NGC 6205

DISTANCE 25,000 light-years

APPARENT MAGNITUDE 5.8

CONSTELLATION Hercules

OBJECT TYPE Globular Cluster

The original image data for this observation was not captured by me. I processed publicly available data to practice my image processing skills, resulting in this final image.

Messier 13 is widely considered the finest globular cluster in the northern sky. Located approximately 25,100 light-years from Earth, this massive stellar necropolis contains several hundred thousand stars, all packed into a sphere about 145 light-years in diameter.

The "Propeller" Phenomenon

One of the most sought-after features for astrophotographers is the "Propeller." Within the dense core of the cluster, three dark, intersecting lanes of dust form a shape resembling a three-bladed propeller. While clearly visible in high-resolution captures, it is an optical alignment of dark nebulae that adds a layer of mystery to the cluster's bright core.

Fun Facts

Stellar Density: Stars in the core are about 500 times more densely packed than those in our own solar neighborhood.
Age: M13 is roughly 11.65 billion years old, nearly as old as the Milky Way itself.
Luminosity: It shines with the light of over 300,000 suns.
Interstellar Mail: In 1974, the Arecibo Message was beamed toward M13. If any civilization there receives it and replies, we can expect a response in about 50,000 years.