The late spring weather was horrible for AP in the eastern US.  Like Murphy's Law we finally get some
clear skies and it's during a full moon with smoke from the worst eastern wildfires in recorded history. 
If you want to do deep sky under these conditions, you image something bright like M13, so here is
this years image.  Last year I did it with my 80mm Scope at 380mm.



 M13 - Great Hercules Globular Cluster

M13 is a spectacular globular cluster and the best example of its type in the northern section of sky. 
It's the standout deep sky object in the constellation of Hercules and is sometimes referred to as the
Great Hercules Globular Cluster.  At Mag. +5.8, it's just about visible to the naked eye and an easy
binocular target. The popularity of M13 is mainly due to its declination; it lies at 36N and from
northern temperate latitudes is well placed high in the sky during summer months.  There are many
other globular's larger and brighter than M13, but all are located in the southern section of the sky. 
 As a result, they either never rise or appear low down from most North America, European and Asian
locations.  Hence, M13 is perhaps the most observed and studied globular cluster of all.

 M13 was discovered by the Astronomer Royal, Sir Edmond Halley in 1714.  He described it as "a
little patch, but shews itself to the naked eye, when the sky is serene and the Moon is absent". 
Fifty years later, Charles Messier   catalogued it on June 1, 1764.  The globular is located 25,100
light-years from Earth.  It has a spatial diameter of 145 light-years and is estimated to contain
about 300,000 stars.

Information Credits:   FreeStarCharts.com

Telescope:  Explore Scientific 127mm APO at f7.5  952mm Fl
Mount  IOptron CEM40
Camera ZWO2600MC
ZWO  EFW

48 X 90   Second Exposures W/Optolong  UV-IR Cut Filter      Gain 100 Offset    50
20 X 180 Second Exposures W/Optolong  UV-IR Cut Filter      Gain 100 Offset    50
10 X 300 Second Exposures W/Optolong  UV-IR Cut Filter      Gain 100 Offset    50
20 Dark Frames 20 Flats, 20 bias
Total Integration Time:  3 Hours  2 Minutes
Acquisition with SharpCap
Astro Pixel Processor
Guiding with  PHD2
Processed with Astra Image/GIMP

Photo taken from Seven Lakes, NC  Bortle 4.5