M9 and Barnard 64 in Ophiuchus

CLICK ON IMAGE FOR FULL SIZE VIEW  (2400x1800)

Scope: Celestron 9.25 Edge 235 mm at f/7, Location: Laguna Mountains, CA  8 June 2013  Camera: ST8300M

Exposure: 13 x 4 min  (1x1 bin) exposure with UV/IR block, 8 x 2 min (2x2 bin) RGB exposures.

Processing: Data Collection -  CCDSoft (as FITs).  Calibrated, stacked (Sigma Combine), LRGB channel registration, central gradient removal, and color equalization - Astroart.  Curves, Levels, LRGB combine and finishing  - Photoshop.  Color calibration using eXcalibrator. This image is a LRGB combine with Luminance layering -   Final Image size is approximately 2400x1832.

North is up in this image.  M9 is a globular cluster located relatively near to the galactic center at about 5000 - 7000 light years - so close that some suspect it is gravitationally distorted. M9 is about 25,000 light years from our solar system. Also in this image is the dark nebula known as Barnard 64 - this is the two dark smudges seen to the right of M9. There is interstellar dust between this object and our solar system that dims this object somewhat - it lies at the edge of the dark nebula Barnard 64. This image replaces an earlier image of M9 that can be seen in the Archives here. Horizontal FOV is 34'

Image center is approximately - Equatorial 2000: RA: 17h 18m 04s Dec: -18°29'45"

All images and content remain the property of Jim Thommes - copyright 2003 - 2013

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