M79

Click on image for larger version.

M79 is one of the most pathetic globular clusters in the sky. I say this with strong emotion since the winter sky has little to offer in terms of these clusters- M79 is just about it. These clusters orbit the center of the galaxy and the winter sky (towards Orion) is in quite the opposite direction. There is a good reason that M79 is so dim- it is located approximately 41,000 light years away. Due to its southern location and distance it is very difficult to appreciate visually through a telescope. CCD images such as this begin to reveal the true nature and beauty of this sphere of stars.

Equipment

Meade 16in LX200 telescope operating at f/6.3
SBIG ST8E CCD camera with color filter wheel

L R G B color production was used to create this image.

Luminance = 18 minutes binned 1x1
 Red = 3 minutes binned 3x3
 Green = 3 minutes binned 3x3
 Blue = 6 minutes binned 3x3
  • Digital Developement (DDP) via Maxim/DL was also used in order to display the the very dim and very bright details of the image simultaneously.

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    Minimum credit line: Scott Myers/Adam Block/NOAO/AURA/NSF

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    Updated: 01/22/2001