M56

Globular Cluster in the Constellation Lyra

M56 lies at a distance from Earth of 32,900 light-years.  Its diameter of 8.8 arc minutes corresponds to a linear extension of about 85 light years.  This stellar swarm is approaching us at the high velocity of 145 km/sec.

 (Text info courtesy of SEDS).

Image Details:

• Instrument: Takahashi TSA-102 Triplet APO Refractor @ f/8  (816mm)
  Mount:  Astro-Physics AP-1200GTO
  Image Scale:  2.27 arc-seconds per pixel after processing
  Camera: SBIG ST-2000XM with CFW8 Color Filter Wheel and AO-8 Adaptive Optics
  Filters & Exposure Times:
  • L:   10 x 5 minutes binned 1 x 1
  • R:  10 x 5 minutes binned 2 x 2
    G:     5 x 5 minutes binned 2 x 2
    B:     5 x 5 minutes binned 2 x 2 
  • Total equivalent unbinned exposure time of 4.2 hours
• Software: Maxim DL/CCD, Adobe Photoshop CS2, RC Astro Gradient X-Terminator, Neat Image Pro
• Location: C.A.A.S. East Observatory, Little Rock, AR., El. 650ft
• Date: August 23th, 2009