Constellation Musca
Right ascension 12h 59m 33.92s
Declination –70° 52′ 35.4″[
Apparent magnitude (V) +7.79
Apparent dimensions (V) 13′.5
Estimated age 12.54 Gyr
Other designations Caldwell 105, GCl 21, Lacaille I.4, Dunlop 164, Bennett 56
One of 150 globular clusters in the Milky Way (my aim is to capture as many as I can, so don’t get bored with them). discovered by Abbe Lacaille during his 1751-1752 journey to South Africa, and catalogued in 1755. It was subsequently observed and catalogued by James Dunlop and Sir John Herschel whose instruments could resolve it into individual stars.
The globular cluster is situated in the very southerly constellation Musca at a distance of 21,200 light years from Earth. It is partially obscured by a dusty region of the galactic plane.
Equipment
GSO 10" f/8 Truss RC Losmandy G11 Mount guided PHD2 Orion Starshoot on 60mm guide scope
QHY 268c one shot colour camera, -10c, . Gain 57 Offset 30, Optolomg L Extreme filter. NINA plate solved and sequenced
Time/Locale
3hrs in 60 lights, 3min subs captured 23/03/2023 Bortle 5/6 sky between 08:00pm and 11:00pm, Najm Nazm Observatory Kelmscott WA, no moon, no wind, cool evening high humidity
Processing: Stacked DSS, PS CS2, CS6
