Messier 3 (M 3)

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 3 (NGC 5272) in the constellation Canes Venatici.

Introduction

The globular star cluster M 3 in the constellation Canes Venatici belongs, according to Stoyan, to the brightest and most worth observing globular star clusters in Messier's catalogue.

M 3 (NGC 5272)
Size: 7'/10' (Stoyan/Karkoschka)
Distance: 32,000 light years (Stoyan)
Rating: *** (Stoyan)

Map

M 3 is located in constellation Canes Venatici (see below for a larger overview) (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

Find/Identify

Find: The globular star cluster M 2 M 3 is located in constellation Canes Venatici, but it is easiest to find from Arcturus in constellation Bootes - it is located on a line between Arcturus and Cor Caroli in Canes Venatici.

Identify: If the globular star cluster M 3 in the constellation Canes Venatici was found in the way described above, it is also identified. There are no larger globular star clusters nearby (M 53 is definitely smaller). (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

Sketch

The sketch by Michael Vlasov (DeepSkyWatch.com) provides a rough impression of what I observed (my impression was much fainter than the sketch): Messier 3 (Globular Cluster) - Sketch by Michael Vlasov (Copyright © Michael Vlasov 2016)

Note: I only have the author's permission to link to the sketch.

My Best Own Photos

eVscope

M 3 - Mar 23, 2020		M 3 - Mar 23, 2020, processed		M 3 - Mar 23, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 3 - May 15, 2020		M 3 - May 15, 2020, processed		M 3 - May 15, 2020, processed and sharpened

Vespera

M 3, Jul 31, 2022 - original (29 frames = 290s)

Vespera Pro

M 3, Jun 7, 2024 - 2000 (120 frames = 20 min)
M 3, Jun 7, 2024 - 1800 (120 frames = 20 min), 1:1 section		M 3, Jun 7, 2024 - 1800 (120 frames = 20 min), 1:1 section, processed

My Own Observations

Observations May 2017

• May 5, 2017 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Explorer 150PDS on GoTo mount): M 3 observed, a glow that is brighter at the center; in higher magnifications still a glow...
• May 9, 10, 12 2017 (ditto): M 3 seen well
• May 14, 15, 2017 (ditto): M 3 and several globular star clusters seen well (7 mm on May 14, 24/16 mm on May 15), all somewhat "resolved", M 13 was the largest
• May 16, 2017 (ditto) M 3 and several globular star clusters seen well - wohl so gut wie noch nie, vor allen so groß (24/4 mm)
• May 20, 2017 (ditto): M 3 and several globular star clusters still seen well
• May 26, 2017 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Heritage 100P): M 3 was hard to find...

Observations June 2019

• Jun 2, 2019 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: PS 72/432 on AZ Pronto mount; TS binoculars): M 3 observed, a glow that is brighter at the center; at higher magnifications still a glow... In binoculars not much fainter...
• Jun 4, 2019 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Skymax-127 on GoTo mount): M 3 observed, a glow that is brighter at the center; at higher magnifications still a glow...

Observations March to September 2020

• March 18 and 23, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 3 photographed
• April 21, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 3 photographed
• May 15, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 3 photographed (no overlay, new rectangular format)
• May 31, 2020 (Erkerode: eVscope): M 3 photographed (n.o., r.f.); sky too bright, dark frame did not work
• June 12, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 3 photographed, slightly disturbed (n.o., r.f.) (did not work on June 11)
• July 3, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 3 photographed, slightly disturbed (n.o., r.f.), sky too bright
• July 11, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: PS72 on AZ Pronto mount, TLAPO1027 on AZ4 mount): M 3 observed at magnifications of up to 100 x (4 mm for PS72, 7 mm for TLSAPO); clearly brighter and more detailed in the TLSAPO.
• August 9, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 3 photographed (n.o., r.f.), sky too bright
• September 28, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 3 photographed (n.o., r.f.), slightly disturbed by clouds

Observations June to September 2021

• June 10, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 3 photographed (n.o., r.f.), new image size and processing.
• August 14, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: C8 on Star Discovery): M 3 observed, faint...
• September 8, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 3 photographed (n.o., r.f.), new image size and processing.

Observations July 2022

• July 21, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: PS 72/432 on AZ-GTi): M 3 and further globular star clusters observed (did not find the comet C/2017 K2); brighter than M 10/12
• July 24, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: C5R on AZ-GTi): M 3 and further globular star clusters observed (did not find the comet); brighter than M 10/12
• July 31, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera): M 3 photographed

Observations June 2024

• June 7, 2024 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera): M 3 photographed, washed out at the core

References

• Messier Catalogue - Messier 3: messier.seds.org/m/m003.html
• Messier 3 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_3

On this Site

• Omegon Photography Scope 72/432 ED OTA Information (2.8" Refractor)
• Sky-Watcher Heritage 100P Information (4" Dobson)
• Sky-Watcher Skymax-127 OTA Information (5" Maksutov-Cassegrain)
• Sky-Watcher Explorer 150PDS Information (6" Newton)
• TS Optics Photoline 102/715 Information (4" Refractor)
• Celestron C8 OTA Information (8" Schmidt-Cassegrain)
• Celestron C5 OTA Information (5" Schmidt-Cassegrain)
• Unistellar eVscope Information
• Vaonis Vespera - Information
• Vaonis Vespera Pro - Information
• Sky-Watcher AZ Pronto Mount Information
• Sky-Watcher AZ4 Mount Information
• Sky-Watcher Star Discovery AZ GoTo Mount Information
• Sky-Watcher AZ-GTi AZ GoTo Mount Information
• My Binoculars

Appendix: My Own Photos

M 3 - Mar 18, 2020		M 3 - Mar 18, 2020, processed		M 3 - Mar 18, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 3 - Mar 18, 2020		M 3 - Mar 18, 2020, processed		M 3 - Mar 18, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 3 - Mar 18, 2020		M 3 - Mar 18, 2020, processed		M 3 - Mar 18, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 3 - Mar 23, 2020		M 3 - Mar 23, 2020, processed		M 3 - Mar 23, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 3 - Mar 23, 2020		M 3 - Mar 23, 2020, processed		M 3 - Mar 23, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 3 - Apr 21, 2020 (local date)		M 3 - Apr 21, 2020, processed		M 3 - Apr 21, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 3 - May 15, 2020		M 3 - May 15, 2020, processed		M 3 - May 15, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 3 - May 31, 2020		M 3 - May 31, 2020, processed		M 3 - May 31, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 3 - Jun 12, 2020, slightly disturbed		M 3 - Jun 12, 2020, processed		M 3 - Jun 12, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 3 - Jul 3, 2020, sky too bright		M 3 - Jul 3, 2020, processed		M 3 - Jul 3, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 3 - Jul 3, 2020, sky too bright		M 3 - Jul 3, 2020, processed		M 3 - Jul 3, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 3 - Aug 9, 2020, sky too bright		M 3 - Aug 9, 2020, processed		M 3 - Aug 9, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 3 - Sep 28, 2020, slightly disturbed by clouds		M 3 - Sep 28, 2020, processed		M 3 - Sep 28, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 3 - Sep 28, 2020, slightly disturbed by clouds		M 3 - Sep 28, 2020, processed		M 3 - Sep 28, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 3 - Jun 10, 2021		M 3 - Jun 10, 2021, processed (Polarr)		M 3 - Jun 10, 2021, processed and sharpened
M 3 - Sep 8, 2021		M 3 - Sep 8, 2021, processed		M 3 - Sep 8, 2021, processed and sharpened

Vespera

M 3, Jul 31, 2022 - original (29 frames = 290s)

Vespera Pro

M 3, Jun 7, 2024 - 2000 (120 frames = 20 min)
M 3, Jun 7, 2024 - 1800 (120 frames = 20 min), 1:1 section		M 3, Jun 7, 2024 - 1800 (120 frames = 20 min), 1:1 section, processed