M62 — Flickering Globular
Globular Cluster in Ophiuchus
About
A massive globular cluster in Ophiuchus, about 21,500 light-years away and only about 5,500 light-years from the Galactic centre. It holds ten binary millisecond pulsars and is also known as the Flickering Globular Cluster.
Imaging tips
- About 14′ across: 1,730–2,890 mm on APS-C, or 2,650–4,420 mm on full frame.
- Low declination: it stays under 10° altitude from 50°N and 25° from 35°N, so a clear southern horizon matters more than anything else.
- A Sky & Telescope gallery shot used 53 subs of 100 s at f/6.3, about 1 h 28 min, with a colour camera. A mono LRGB frame spent 36 min per colour.
- Best in May and June.
Facts
- Size
- 14′
- Magnitude
- 6.5
- Coordinates
- RA 17h 1.3m, Dec −30° 7′
- Framing, APS-C
- 1730–2890 mm
- Framing, full frame
- 2650–4420 mm
- Best months
- May, Jun
- Peak altitude
- 10° from 50°N, 25° from 35°N