Globular cluster in Lepus
Star-hop chart
Messier 79 is a nice globular cluster that can be found in the constellation Lepus, the Hare, which is just below the feet of Orion. Through a small telescope, the outer sections of the cluster can be resolved into individual stars. The strings of stars around the periphery give the cluster something of a star-like shape. Messier 79 has a dense center, but with larger telescopes and higher magnification, individual stars in the core can be discerned.
Near the bottom right edge of the image, a scattering of some small and very distant galaxies can be seen, adding a real sense of depth to the scene.
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Image details: Exposure times of 24 minutes luminance and 18 minutes each of red, green, and blue, taken with an SBIG ST-8300M camera through a Meade 12” telescope at f/6.
February 2012