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M12 - Globular Star Cluster in Ophiuchus
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Copyright 2009 Hap Griffin
M12 is a globular star custer lying in the constellation of Ophiuchus. It lies in the halo of globular clusters surrounding the core of our Milky Way galaxy at a distance of some 16,000 light years. Visible just below it at the 5 o'clock position is distant magnitude 15.8 galaxy PGC 1103219. It appears as a faint reddish smear.
Date/Location:
January 31, 2009 Griffin/Hunter
Observatory Bethune, SC
Instrument: 10" Orion Newtonian with Baader MPCC
Focal Ratio: f/4.7
Camera: Modified Canon 40D
Guiding: Auto via SBIG ST-402 through Takahashi FSQ-106N
Mount: AP1200GTO
Conditions: Visually clear and cold - some sky glow
Weather: 28 F
Exposure: 39 minutes total (13 x 3 minutes) @ ISO 800
Filters: Baader UV/IR block internal to camera
Processing: Focused and captured with ImagesPlus Camera
Control v 3.50a.
RAW to TIFF conversion, dark and flat frame calibration, Digital Development in
ImagesPlus v3.50a. FInal tweaking in Photoshop CS3.