Globular cluster in Hydra

Star-hop chart

Messier 68 is one of the few globular clusters that can be found in a region of the sky populated by many galaxies. During the spring, it passes low in the southern sky as seen from here in Connecticut. It is fairly easy to find just a few degrees to the south of the 4 bright stars that form the constellation Corvus.

Near the bottom edge of the frame is a dim spiral galaxy, PGC 42334, which at magnitude 14.6 might be barely visible through large amateur telescope.

Image details:  Exposure times of 6 minutes luminance, and 3 minutes each of red, green, and blue, taken with an SBIG ST-8300M imager and a 14" Meade LX850 telescope at f/6.

April 2015