M13 - memories of a kneeling man (Tom Gray)

M13 - memories of a kneeling man

Revision title: Denoised using GraXpert 3

M13 - the great northern globular in Hercules, is Class V (moderately-condensed), and makes a memorable sight. Lying 25,000 LY away and containing ~300,000 stars, it shines at Mag 5.8 making it easily visible with binoculars or a small telescope, and with averted vision under a dark sky. M13 is thought to be 11.65 billion years old and contains an abundance of 'blue stragglers' formed either by mass transfer from companion stars, or stellar mergers. These are visible in my image, along with the edge on galaxy NGC 6207, and a number of fainter galaxies seen in the annotated widefield (mouseover).

I have fond memories of looking at this with my Dad through binoculars when I was young, and later being bowled over when I observed this in my first proper telescope, an 8" Meade SCT. The number of stars, colours and patterns made this endlessly enjoyable. Imaging takes this to a whole new level, showing off the colour saturation and resolution in long focal lengths. My Dad always came out to enjoy these views, and the stunning summer Milky Way under Bortle 2 dark skies in Aberdeenshire.

In ancient Greek mythology, Engonasin was the 'kneeling man', in 2 BC Heracles, the hero who defeated Draco (the dragon ladon), and then Hercules, the strong man, named by Ptolemy from 2 AD. My old Dad died today, in his 91st year, after a five week spell in hospital. Part of me feels immense relief that he died peacefully, free of pain, but of course I feel a great loss. He was a tower of strength in our lives, a kind and generous man, who had lived a good life. He had a strong Christian faith, a kneeling man, who in his later years espoused the motto 'to live simply, so that others may simply live'.

I dedicate this simple image and memories to him, with gratitude.

Original
B
Final
C

B

Title: Full frame

Description: In a 135mm lens it feels like a binocular view, a giant ball of stars lost in space.

Uploaded: ...

C

Title: Denoised using GraXpert 3

Description: The new GraXpert now includes a new AI denoise module - best applied to the linear image. I'm quite impressed with this.

Uploaded: ...

Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer
Altair Astro 183 M/C Hypercams
UK Astro-Imaging
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Status	Advanced success
Started	...
Astrometry.net job	9739855
PixInsight job	1PUOUOLD8G7KFA4HKZ4LBN5KVYVP8MAH
PixInsight queue size	n/a
PixInsight stage	TASK_LOG

RA (center)	16h41m40s.76
RA (top/left)	16h45m38s.38
RA (top/right)	16h33m21s.92
RA (bottom/right)	16h37m52s.15
RA (bottom/left)	16h49m54s.80

Dec (center)	+36°29′59″.1
Dec (top/left)	+38°01′14″.0
Dec (top/right)	+36°53′40″.6
Dec (bottom/right)	+34°58′20″.10
Dec (bottom/left)	+36°04′13″.6

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