M92
Globular Cluster in Hercules
About
A globular cluster in Hercules, about 26,700 light-years away and roughly 11 billion years old, among the oldest in the Milky Way. It is metal-poor and holds at least two stellar generations. M13 is the usual favourite, though M92 is only slightly fainter and more compact.
Imaging tips
- About 11′ across, so 2,200–3,670 mm on APS-C (3,380–5,630 mm full frame) frames it.
- It is bright enough for short subs: one imager stacked 60 × 10 s unguided, another used 1 minute subs for 2 hours total.
- Faint galaxies lie around the cluster; one write-up advises leaving them in the frame rather than cropping tight.
- Best in May and June, passing close to overhead from mid-northern latitudes.
Facts
- Size
- 11′
- Magnitude
- 6.4
- Coordinates
- RA 17h 17.1m, Dec +43° 8′
- Framing, APS-C
- 2200–3670 mm
- Framing, full frame
- 3380–5630 mm
- Best months
- May, Jun
- Peak altitude
- 83° from 50°N, 82° from 35°N