The constellation Hercules travels high overhead during the summer months in the northern hemisphere. It has a sprawling shape that vaguely resembles a human figure, but its most recognizable feature is the "keystone" shape in its center.

The keystone is also where the constellation's most famous object resides. Messier 13, the Great Hercules Cluster can be found on the west side of the keystone, one-third of the distance from the northern corner to the sounthern corner. (West is up and north is to the left in this image.)

Just a few degrees north of the keystone is another nice globular cluster, Messier 92.

Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown, is a group of seven stars that form a distinctive "C" shape, about 10 degrees southwest of the keystone.

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Image details: 10 images, each 15 seconds at ISO 3200, taken with a Canon T6i camera at a focal length of 24 mm.

May 2023