Messier 13 (M 13)

Introduction | Map | Find/Identify | Sketch | My Best Own Photos | My Own Observations | References || Appendix: My Own Photos

On this page I collect my observations of the globular star cluster M 13 in the constallation Hercules.

 

Introduction

The globular star cluster M 13 in the Hercules constellation is probably the largest globular cluster in the northern sky. It is located on the right edge of the Keystone asterism, which is the most prominent part of the constellation Hercules and forms a trapezoid. M 13 is not quite round and, depending on the author, 8 'or 15' in size. I was able to see the bright nucleus well, but I was not able to resolve single stars - until August 23, 2019, on which I suceeded using averted vision (and maybe also with direct vision...) for the first time.

Size: 8' / 15' (Stoyan/Karkoschka)
Distance: 24,000 light years (Stoyan)
Rating: **** (Stoyan)

 

Map

M 13 is located at the right edge of the Keystone asterism (1/3 from the top) (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

 

Find/Identify

Find: The globular star cluster M 13 in the constellation Hercules is located at the right edge of the Keystone asterism (1/3 from the top) and therefore easy to find once you have found the Keystone trapezoid.

Identify: When you look more closely at the region of M 13, you will find two stars to the left of M 13; these form, together with M 13, a triangle, which can be seen well in binoculars or at low magnifications and serves for safe identification (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com). Here is a detail view of the triangle (created with Stellarium):

Overall, this cluster is an easy-to-find object, even with binoculars, at least once you have found the Keystone asterism.

Sketch

The sketch by Michael Vlasov (DeepSkyWatch.com) provides a rough impression of what I observed in Summer/Autumn 2016 (my impression was much fainter and smaller than the sketch):

Sketch of the M 13 globular star cluster by Michael Vlasov (Copyright © Michael Vlasov 2016) - presented with the author's permission

 

My Best Own Photos

ZWO ASI224

         

M 13 Sep 2, 2021, PS 72/432, 61frames, 5sec, gain300, processed, with IR/UV cut filter

 

M 13 - Sep 2, 2021, PS 72/432, stacked from single frames, processed, with IR/UV cut filter

 

M 13 - Sep 4, 2021, TLAPO1027, 60frames, 5sec, gain300

      

M 13 - Sep 3, 2021, C5, 48frames, 5sec, gain300, processed

 

M 13 - Sep 3, 2021, C5, 72frames, 5sec, gain300, processed

 

M 13 - Sep 4, 2021, TLAPO1027, 60frames, 5sec, gain300, photo on top processed

eVscope

         

M 13 - May 16, 2020

 

M 13 - May 16, 2020, processed

 

M 13 - May 16, 2020, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - Sep 15, 2020

 

M 13 - Sep 15, 2020, processed

 

M 13 - Sep 15, 2020, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - Jul 18, 2021

 

M 13 - Jul 18, 2021, processed

 

M 13 - Jul 18, 2021, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - Aug 20, 2021

 

M 13 - Aug 20, 2021, processed

 

M 13 - Aug 20, 2021, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - Aug 25, 2021

 

M 13 - Aug 25, 2021, processed

 

M 13 - Aug 25, 2021, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - Oct 16, 2021

 

M 13 - Oct 16, 2021, processed

 

M 13 - Oct 16, 2021, processed and sharpened

eVscope 2

         

M 13 - Aug 22, 2022

  M 13 - Aug 21, 2023   M 13 - Sep 6, 2023, 5 min
      

M 13 - Aug 22, 2022, photo on top processed

 

M 13 - Aug 21, 2023, photo on top processed

  M 13 - Sep 6, 2023, photo on top processed

Vespera

    

M 13, Aug 12, 2022 - original (30 frames = 300 seconds)

 

M 13, Aug 20, 2022 - original (89 frames = 890 seconds)

 

M 13, Aug 25, 2022 - original (90 frames = 900 seconds)

 

M 13, Aug 28, 2022 - original (30 frames = 300 seconds)

 

My Own Observations

Observations Summer to Autumn 2016

Observations February/March 2017

Observations May 2017

Observations September 2017

Observations October/November 2017

Observations August 2018

Observations September/October 2018

Observations August/September 2019

Observations September/October 2019 (Sumène)

Observations March to October 2020

Observations July to October 2021

Observations July/August 2022

Observations August to December 2023

 

References

Websites

On this Site


Appendix: My Own Photos

ZWO ASI224

         

M 13 - Sep 2, 2021, PS 72/432, 61frames, 5sec, gain300, processed, with IR/UV cut filter

 

M 13 - Sep 2, 2021, PS 72/432, stacked from single frames, processed, with IR/UV cut filter

 

M 13 - Sep 4, 2021, TLAPO1027, 60frames, 5sec, gain300

      

M 13 - Sep 3, 2021, C5, 48frames, 5sec, gain300, processed

 

M 13 - Sep 3, 2021, C5, 72frames, 5sec, gain300, processed

 

M 13 - Sep 4, 2021, TLAPO1027, 60frames, 5sec, gain300, processed

eVscope

         

M 13 - Mar 18, 2020

 

M 13 - Mar 18, 2020, processed

 

M 13 - Mar 18, 2020, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - May 16, 2020

 

M 13 - May 16, 2020, processed

 

M 13 - May 16, 2020, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - May 16, 2020

 

M 13 - May 16, 2020, processed

 

M 13 - May 16, 2020, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - May 29, 2020, somewhat disturbed

 

M 13 - May 29, 2020, processed

 

M 13 - May 29, 2020, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - May 31, 2020, somewhat bright sky

 

M 13 - May 31, 2020, processed

 

M 13 - May 31, 2020, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - Jun 11, 2020

 

M 13 - Jun 11, 2020, processed

 

M 13 - Jun 11, 2020, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - Jul 3, 2020, sky too bright

 

M 13 - Jul 3, 2020, processed

 

M 13 - Jul 3, 2020, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - Jul 9, 2020, disturbed

 

M 13 - Jul 9, 2020, processed

 

M 13 - Jul 9, 2020, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - Aug 19, 2020

 

M 13 - Aug 19, 2020, processed

 

M 13 - Aug 19, 2020, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - Aug 23, 2020, disturbed

 

M 13 - Aug 23, 2020, processed

 

M 13 - Aug 23, 2020, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - Aug 25, 2020, sky too bright

 

M 13 - Aug 25, 2020, processed

 

M 13 - Aug 25, 2020, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - Sep 15, 2020

 

M 13 - Sep 15, 2020, processed

 

M 13 - Sep 15, 2020, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - Sep 28, 2020

 

M 13 - Sep 28, 2020, processed

 

M 13 - Sep 28, 2020, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - Sep 28, 2020

 

M 13 - Sep 28, 2020, processed

 

M 13 - Sep 28, 2020, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - Sep 28, 2020

 

M 13 - Sep 28, 2020, processed

 

M 13 - Sep 28, 2020, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - Sep 30, 2020, slightly disturbed

 

M 13 - Sep 30, 2020, processed

 

M 13 - Sep 30, 2020, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - Sep 30, 2020, slightly disturbed

 

M 13 - Sep 30, 2020, processed

 

M 13 - Sep 30, 2020, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - Sep 30, 2020, slightly disturbed

 

M 13 - Sep 30, 2020, processed

 

M 13 - Sep 30, 2020, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - Oct 19, 2020

 

M 13 - Oct 19, 2020, processed

 

M 13 - Oct 19, 2020, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - Jul 18, 2021

 

M 13 - Jul 18, 2021, processed

 

M 13 - Jul 18, 2021, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - Jul 29, 2021

 

M 13 - Jul 29, 2021, processed

 

M 13 - Jul 29, 2021, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - Aug 20, 2021

 

M 13 - Aug 20, 2021, processed

 

M 13 - Aug 20, 2021, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - Aug 25, 2021

 

M 13 - Aug 25, 2021, processed

 

M 13 - Aug 25, 2021, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - Aug 25, 2021

 

M 13 - Aug 25, 2021, processed

 

M 13 - Aug 25, 2021, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - Sep 8, 2021

 

M 13 - Sep 8, 2021, processed

 

M 13 - Sep 8, 2021, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - Oct 7, 2021

 

M 13 - Oct 7, 2021, processed

 

M 13 - Oct 7, 2021, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - Oct 9, 2021

 

M 13 - Oct 9, 2021, processed

 

M 13 - Oct 9, 2021, processed and sharpened

   

M 13 - Oct 16, 2021

 

M 13 - Oct 16, 2021, processed

 

M 13 - Oct 16, 2021, processed and sharpened

     

M 13 - Oct 19, 2021

 

M 13 - Oct 19, 2021, photo left processed

   

eVscope 2

         

M 13 - Aug 22, 2022

  M 13 - Aug 21, 2023   M 13 - Sep 6, 2023, 5 min
      

M 13 - Aug 22, 2022, photo on top processed

 

M 13 - Aug 21, 2023, photo on top processed

  M 13 - Sep 6, 2023, photo on top processed
     

M 13 - 18.12.2023, 6 min

 

M 13 - 18.12.2023, photo left processed

   

Vespera

    

M 13, Jul 29, 2022 - original (20 frames = 200 seconds)

 

M 13, Jul 30,2022 - original (89 frames = 890 seconds)

 

M 13, Jul 31, 2022 - original (60 frames = 600 seconds)

 

M 13, Aug 6, 2022 - original (40 frames = 400 seconds)

 

M 13, Aug 12, 2022 - original (30 frames = 300 seconds)

 

M 13, Aug 20, 2022 - original (89 frames = 890 seconds)

 

M 13, Aug 25, 2022 - original (90 frames = 900 seconds)

 

M 13, Aug 28, 2022 - original (30 frames = 300 seconds)