License: CC0
Original Size: 2500 × 1667 pixels
Description: LATEST VERSION: flic.kr/p/2rxcArQ
Messier 3 / M3 / NGC 5272
Messier 3 is one of the brightest globular clusters in the northern sky, consisting of over 500,000 stars. It is about 34,000 light-years away, orbiting the Milky Way, and is estimated to be 11.39 billion years old.
M3 is often overshadowed by M13 despite being the larger cluster. M13 is significantly closer to us, which makes it appear brighter and more spectacular: flic.kr/p/2seQNxW
Total integration: 6 hours 41 minutes (401 minutes) 02/17/19: 22 x 60 seconds ISO800 [Bortle 6] 03/17/19: 297 x 60 seconds ISO800 [Bortle 6] 05/02/20: 41 x 120 seconds ISO200 [Bortle 7]
Location: Charlottesville, VA and Coral Springs, FL SQM: 19.22 mag/arcsec^2 and 18.18 mag/arcsec^2 (Bortle 6 and Bortle 7) Camera: Canon T3i (stock/unmodified) Average camera temperature: 80 F (27 C) Telescope: Explore Scientific ED80 f/6.0 Apochromatic Refractor (with ES field flattener) Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G Guide scope: Svbony 50mm f/4.0 Guide Scope Guide camera: Orion StarShoot AutoGuider Capture software: N.I.N.A., ASTAP, PHD2
Processing software: PixInsight, GIMP