M5 = NGC5904 ( 15h 18.6m +2°05´, 5.8 mag )


Kirch discovered this globular cluster in Serpens in 1702 and Messier observed it on May 23, 1764. It is approximately 25,000 ly away and contains more than 500,000 stars in 130 ly globe. Being a little ellipsoidal, it also displays many streamers extending from concentrated core of the cluster. M5 is clearly visible in binoculars about 7°40' SW of a Serpentis (see finder chart below). If you have a big scope, check out Palomar 5 nearby!

The above image was taken on June 10, 2002 from Harrowsmith, Ontario with Cookbook 245 LDC CCD camera and a Celestron Ultima 8 f6.3 telescope autoguided with Cookbook 211 LDC CCD camera on piggybacked 500mm f8 telephoto lens. It is composed of fourteen white exposures (120 sec. each) as well as cyan, magenta and yellow-filtered integrations (5 x 120 sec., 5 x 120 sec. and 7 x 120 sec., respectively) processed with AIP4WIN. Color image was then adjusted in Lab color space using Corel PhotoPaint 8.

North is to the right.


Map created in Guide 7.0 - 7°45' x 10°. North is up.


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© Jan Wisniewski