Globular Clusters

Globular Cluster NGC 5466

NGC 5466 is a class XII (Shapley–Sawyer - almost no concentration towards the center) globular cluster in the constellation Boötes. Located 51,800 light years from Earth and 52,800 light years from the Galactic Center. (ref: Wikipedia)
Observation data (J2000 epoch)Class: XIIConstellation: BoötesRight ascension: 14h 05m 27.29sDeclination: +28° 32′ 04.0″Distance: 51.9 klyApparent magnitude (V): 10.5Apparent dimensions (V): 11
Tech Specs: Orion 8” RC Telescope, ZWO ASI2600MC camera running at -10F, 139 x 60 seconds, Celestron CGEM-DX pier mounted, ZWO EAF and ASIAir Pro, processed in PixInsight. Image Date: February 6, 2024. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Globular Cluster Messier 56 (M56)

Messier 56 (also known as M56 or NGC 6779) is a globular cluster in the constellation Lyra. M56 is about 32,900 light-years away from Earth and measures roughly 84 light-years across, containing 230,000. This cluster has an estimated age of 13.70 billion years
Observation data (J2000 epoch)Class: XConstellation: LyraRight ascension: 19h 16m 35.57sDeclination: +30° 11′ 00.5″Apparent magnitude (V): 8.3Apparent dimensions (V): 8.8'
Tech Specs: Orion 8” RC Telescope, ZWO ASI2600MC camera running at 0F, 30 x 60 second exposures, Celestron CGEM-DX pier mounted, ZWO EAF and ASIAir Pro, processed in PixInsight. Image Date: June 12, 2024. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

NGC 6712 - Globular Cluster in Scutum

NGC 6712 is a Class IX globular cluster in the constellation Scutum. The cluster appears to be about 12 billion years old and may have originally been significantly more massive having undergone significant mass loss due to passes through the galactic disc.
Observation data (J2000 epoch)Class: IXConstellation: ScutumRight ascension: 18h 53m 04.32sDeclination: –08° 42′ 21.5″Distance: 26.4 klyApparent magnitude (V): +8.69Apparent dimensions (V): 7.2'
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED Telescope, ZWO ASI2600MC camera running at 0F, 54x60 seconds guided exposures, Sky-Watcher EQ6R-Pro pier mounted, ZWO EAF and ASIAir Pro, processed in DSS and PixInsight. Image Date: August 11, 2023. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Globular Cluster Messier 13 (M13)

Messier 13 (M13 or NGC 6205) is also referred to as the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules, is one of the brightest and best known globular clusters in the northern skies. It shines at a magnitude of 5.8, is about 22,200 light years away and contains an estimated 300,000 stars.
Observation data (J2000 epoch)Class: VConstellation: HerculesRight ascension: 16h 41m 41.24sDeclination: +36° 27′ 35.5″Distance: 22.2 klyApparent magnitude (V): 5.8Apparent dimensions (V): 20 arcminutes
Tech Specs: Orion 8” RC Telescope, ZWO ASI2600MC camera running at -10F, 2h30m using 60 second exposures, Celestron CGEM-DX pier mounted, ZWO EAF and ASIAir Plus, processed in PixInsight. Image Date: April 15, 2024. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Globular Cluster Messier 3 (M3)

Messier 3 (also known as M3 or NGC 5272) is a globular cluster found in the northern constellation of Canes Venatici. M3 is one of the three brightest globular clusters in the Northern hemisphere (along with M13 and M5). This cluster is made up of around 500,000 stars. It is estimated to be 11.4 billion years old. It is located at a distance of about 33,900 light-years away from Earth.
Observation data (J2000 epoch)Class: VIConstellation: Canes VenaticiRight ascension: 13h 42m 11.62sDeclination: +28° 22′ 38.2″Distance: 33.9 klyApparent magnitude (V): 6.39Apparent dimensions (V): 18′.0
Tech Specs: Meade 12” LX-90 SCT Telescope, Antares Focal Reducer, ZWO ASI2600MC camera running at 0F, 65 x 60 second exposures, Celestron CGX-L pier mounted, ZWO EAF and ASIAir Pro, processed in PixInsight. Image Date: April 23, 2025. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Globular Cluster NGC 6934 in Delphinus

NGC 6934 is a globular cluster of stars in the constellation Delphinus. It's located about 52,000 light-years from the Sun and is home to some of the most distant stars in the Milky Way galaxy.
NGC 6934 is located close to the celestial equator, so it's visible from both hemispheres at certain times of the year. Backyard scopes show a fuzzy disk of nebulosity, about 5 arc minutes in diameter with a brighter core. The cluster stars are estimated to be some 10 billion years old.
Observation data (J2000 epoch)Class: VIIIConstellation: DelphinusRight ascension: 20h 34m 11.37sDeclination: +07° 24′ 16.1″Distance: 52 klyApparent magnitude (V): 8.83Apparent dimensions (V): 1.20′
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED Telescope, ZWO ASI2600MC camera running at 0F, 81x60 seconds guided exposures, Sky-Watcher EQ6R-Pro pier mounted, ZWO EAF and ASIAir Pro, processed in DSS and PixInsight. Image Date: July 11, 2023. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Globular Cluster IC1276 (Palomar 7) in the Constellation Serpens

IC 1276 (also known as Palomar 7) is a globular star cluster in the constellation Serpens. Because of its position inside the Milky Way and its distance of 17,600 light-years the dust of the Milky Way reddens the color of this globular cluster.
RA: 18:10:44.20Dec: -07:12:27.4Distance from Sun: 17.6 klyApparent Diameter: 21.0 arc minBrightness: 10.34 mag vis
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED Telescope, ZWO ASI2600MC camera running at 0F, 75x60 seconds guided exposures, Sky-Watcher EQ6R-Pro pier mounted, ZWO EAF and ASIAir Pro, processed in DSS and PixInsight. Image Date: August 10, 2023. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Globular Cluster Messier 2 (M2 or NGC 7089)

Messier 2 or M2 (also designated NGC 7089) is a globular cluster in the constellation Aquarius. M2 is about 55,000 light-years distant from Earth. At 175 light-years in diameter, it is one of the larger globular clusters known. The cluster is rich, compact, and significantly elliptical. It is 12.5 billion years old and one of the older globular clusters associated with the Milky Way galaxy.
Observation data (J2000 epoch)Class: IIConstellation: AquariusRight ascension: 21h 33m 27.02sDeclination: –00° 49′ 23.7″Distance: 55,000 lyApparent magnitude (V): 6.5Apparent dimensions (V): 16.0′
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED Telescope, ZWO ASI2600MC camera running at 0F, 33x60 seconds guided exposures, Sky-Watcher EQ6R-Pro pier mounted, ZWO EAF and ASIAir Pro, processed in DSS and PixInsight. Image Date: August 11, 2023. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Globular Cluster Messier 14 (M14 or NGC 6402)

Messier 14 (M14 or NGC 6402) is a globular cluster in a rather empty area of the constellation Ophiuchus. It was discovered in 1764 by the French astronomer Charles Messier who described it as a “nebula without stars, not large, faint, and round”. M14 is approximately 29,000 light-years distant. You will definitely need binoculars or a small telescope to see this cluster.
Observation data (J2000 epoch)Class: VIIIConstellation: OphiuchusRight ascension: 17h 37m 36.15sDeclination: –03° 14′ 45.3″Distance: 30.3 klyApparent magnitude (V): 7.6Apparent dimensions (V): 11.0′
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED Telescope, ZWO ASI2600MC camera running at 0F, 81x60 seconds guided exposures, Sky-Watcher EQ6R-Pro pier mounted, ZWO EAF and ASIAir Pro, processed in DSS and PixInsight. Image Date: May 18, 2023. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

The Distant Globular Cluster NGC6229

NGC 6229 is a relatively distant and compact globular cluster located in the constellation Hercules, approximately 100,000 light-years from Earth. Discovered by William Herschel in 1787, it was initially mistaken for a planetary nebula due to its dense, unresolved appearance through early telescopes. It is the third-brightest globular cluster in its constellation, following the more famous Messier 13 and Messier 92, though its extreme distance makes its individual stars appear much fainter.
🔭 Technical Details:
Telescope: Meade 12” LX-90 SCT with Antares Focal ReducerCamera: ZWO ASI071MC (cooled to -10°F) BIN2Mount: Celestron CGX-L pier mountedCapture: 52-minutes total exposure (60s subs) via ASIAir ProLocation: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA (Bortle 4)Processing: PixInsight & DeepSkyStackerImage Date: February 14, 2026.

Globular Cluster NGC 7006 in Delphinus

From SpaceTelescope.org, “NGC 7006 resides in the outskirts of the Milky Way. It is about 135,000 light-years away, five times the distance between the Sun and the center of the galaxy, and it is part of the galactic halo. This roughly spherical region of the Milky Way is made up of dark matter, gas and sparsely distributed stellar clusters.”
Observation data (J2000 epoch)Class: IConstellation: DelphinusRight ascension: 21h 1m 29.4sDeclination: +16° 11′ 14.4″Apparent magnitude (V): 10.6Apparent dimensions (V): 2.8′
Tech Specs: Orion 8” RC Telescope, ZWO ASI2600MC camera running at 0F, 120 x 60 second exposures, Celestron CGEM-DX pier mounted, ZWO EAF and ASIAir Pro, processed in PixInsight. Image Date: June 12, 2024. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Globular Cluster Messier 12 (M12 or NGC 6218)

Messier 12 (M12 or NGC 6218 in the New General Catalog) is a globular cluster in the constellation Ophiuchus. It is also referred to as the “Gumball Globular”. It was discovered in 1764 by the French astronomer Charles Messier who described it as a “nebula without stars”. M12 is approximately 15,700 light-years distant. You will definitely need binoculars or a small telescope to see this cluster. This cluster contains about 200,000 stars, the brightest of them are about 12th magnitude.
Observation data (J2000 epoch)Class: IXConstellation: OphiuchusRight ascension: 16h 47m 14.18sDeclination: –01° 56′ 54.7″Distance: 16.44 ± 0.16 klyApparent magnitude (V): 6.7Apparent dimensions (V): 16′.0
Tech Specs: Meade 12” LX-90 SCT Telescope, Antares Focal Reducer, ZWO ASI2600MC camera running at 0F, 40 x 60 seconds, Celestron CGX-L pier mounted, ZWO EAF and ASIAir Pro, processed in DSS and PixInsight. Image Date: July 23, 2025. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Globular Cluster Messier 92 (M92 or NGC 6341)

Globular Cluster Messier 92 (M92 or NGC 6341) is a bright, compact globular cluster located in the northern section of Hercules. I think Robert Burnham said it best, “This is a beautiful rich globular cluster which in almost any other constellation would be considered a major show object; in Hercules it has been somewhat overshadowed by the splendor of the fabulous M13.” (Burnham’s Celestial Handbook – Volume 2 – Robert Burnham Jr.).
Observation data (J2000 epoch)Class: IVConstellation: HerculesRight ascension: 17h 17m 07.39sDeclination: +43° 08′ 09.4″[2]Distance: 27,000 lyApparent magnitude (V): 6.4Apparent dimensions (V): 14' arc minutes
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED Telescope, ZWO ASI2600MC camera running at 0F, 76x60 seconds guided exposures, Sky-Watcher EQ6R-Pro pier mounted, ZWO EAF and ASIAir Pro, processed in DSS and PixInsight. Image Date: May 13, 2023. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Globular Cluster NGC 5466

NGC 5466 is a class XII (Shapley–Sawyer - almost no concentration towards the center) globular cluster in the constellation Boötes. Located 51,800 light years from Earth and 52,800 light years from the Galactic Center. (ref: Wikipedia)
Observation data (J2000 epoch)Class: XIIConstellation: BoötesRight ascension: 14h 05m 27.29sDeclination: +28° 32′ 04.0″Distance: 51.9 klyApparent magnitude (V): 10.5Apparent dimensions (V): 11
Tech Specs: Meade 12” LX-90 SCT Telescope, Antares Focal Reducer, ZWO ASI2600MC camera running at 0F, 65 x 60 second exposures, Celestron CGX-L pier mounted, ZWO EAF and ASIAir Pro, processed in PixInsight. Image Date: April 23, 2025. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Globular Cluster Messier 5 (M5 or NGC 5904)

Messier 5 (M5 or NGC 5904) is a bright globular cluster located in the constellation Serpens. M5 is one of the oldest globular clusters, as well as one of the brightest in our galaxy. Estimates to the number of stars vary from 100,000 to as many as 500,000.
Observation data (J2000 epoch)Class: VConstellation: SerpensRight ascension: 15h 18m 33.22sDeclination: +02° 04′ 51.7″Distance: 24.5 klyApparent magnitude (V): 5.6Apparent dimensions (V): 23′.0
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED Telescope, ZWO ASI2600MC camera running at 0F, 60x60 seconds guided exposures, Sky-Watcher EQ6R-Pro pier mounted, ZWO EAF and ASIAir Pro, processed in DSS and PixInsight. Image Date: May 12, 2023. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Globular Cluster Messier 15 (M15 or NGC 7078)

Messier 15 (M15 or NGC 7078) is a bright globular cluster located in the constellation Pegasus. The age of this cluster is estimated to be 12 billion years, ranking it as one of the oldest known globular clusters.
Observation data (J2000 epoch)Class: IVConstellation: PegasusRight ascension: 21h 29m 58.33sDeclination: +12° 10′ 01.2″Distance: 35.69 ± 0.43 klyApparent magnitude (V): 6.2Apparent dimensions (V): 18′.0
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED Telescope, ZWO ASI2600MC camera running at 0F, 81x60 seconds guided exposures, Sky-Watcher EQ6R-Pro pier mounted, ZWO EAF and ASIAir Pro, processed in DSS and PixInsight. Image Date: August 11, 2023. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Globular Cluster Messier 71 (M71 or NGC 6838)

Messier 71 (M71 or NGC 6838) is a globular cluster in the small northern constellation Sagitta and is about 12,000 light years away from Earth. Up until the 1970’s this cluster was designated as a densely packed open cluster because of the loose central region, today it is designated as a loosely concentrated globular cluster with a young age of 9-10 billion years.
Observation data (J2000 epoch)Class: X-XIConstellation: SagittaRight ascension: 19h 53m 46.49sDeclination: +18° 46′ 45.1″Apparent magnitude (V): 8.2Apparent dimensions (V): 7.2'
Tech Specs: Meade 12” LX-90, Celestron CGEM-DX pier mounted, Antares Focal Reducer, ZWO ASI290MC (on Orion 60mm Guidescope), ASI071MC-Pro, ZWO AAPlus, ZWO EAF, 72 x 60 seconds at 0C plus darks and flats, processed using PixInsight and DSS. Image Date: June 5, 2022. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Globular Cluster NGC 2419 in Lynx

NGC 2419, famously known as the “Intergalactic Wanderer,” is one of the most distant and massive globular clusters associated with the Milky Way. Located approximately 300,000 light-years away in the faint constellation Lynx, it sits nearly twice as far from the galactic center as the Large Magellanic Cloud. It earned its nickname when astronomers originally (and incorrectly) believed it was not gravitationally bound to our galaxy, but rather drifting through the void of intergalactic space. We now know it follows a highly eccentric, nearly polar orbit that takes roughly 3 billion years to complete a single revolution. Despite its extreme distance, NGC 2419 is intrinsically brilliant—ranking among the brightest clusters in the Milky Way—and is a fascinating subject for researchers because it contains two distinct populations of stars with different chemical compositions, suggesting a complex and mysterious formation history.
🔭 Technical Details:
Telescope: Meade 12” LX-90 SCT with Antares Focal ReducerCamera: ZWO ASI071MC (cooled to -10°F) BIN2Mount: Celestron CGX-L pier mountedCapture: 2 hours total exposure (60s subs) via ASIAir ProLocation: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA (Bortle 4)Processing: PixInsight & DeepSkyStackerImage Date: February 14, 2026.

Globular Cluster Messier 10 (M10)

Messier 10 (M10 or NGC 6254) is a globular cluster in the constellation Ophiuchus. It is approximately 15,000 light years away. From Wikipedia, “A globular cluster is a spherical collection of stars that orbits a galactic core as a satellite. Globular clusters are very tightly bound by gravity, which gives them their spherical shapes and relatively high stellar densities toward their centers.”
Observation data (J2000 epoch)Class: VIIConstellation: OphiuchusRight ascension: 16h 57m 8.92sDeclination: −04° 05′ 58.07″Distance: 14.3 klyApparent magnitude (V): 6.6Apparent dimensions (V): 20′.0
Tech Specs: Orion 8" f/8 Ritchey-Chretien Astrograph Telescope, Celestron CGEM-DX pier mounted, ZWO ASI290MC and ASI071MC-Pro, ZWO AAPlus, ZWO EAF, 71 x 60 seconds at 0C plus darks and flats, processed using PixInsight and DSS. Image Date: April 29, 2022. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Globular Cluster Messier 53 (M53 or NGC 5024)

Messier 53 (also known as M53 or NGC 5024) is a globular cluster in the Coma Berenices constellation and is one of the more outlying globular clusters. It is roughly 60,000 light-years away from our solar system.
Observation data (J2000 epoch)Class: VConstellation: Coma BerenicesRight ascension: 13h 12m 55.25sDeclination: +18° 10′ 05.4″Distance: 58,000 lyApparent magnitude (V): 7.6Apparent dimensions (V): 13’
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED Telescope, ZWO ASI2600MC camera running at 0F, 135x60 seconds guided exposures, Sky-Watcher EQ6R-Pro pier mounted, ZWO EAF and ASIAir Pro, processed in DSS and PixInsight. Image Date: May 15, 2023. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

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