M2 - Globular Cluster in Aquarius

The first of the star clusters in Messier's catalog, M2 can be found in an area of the sky that is relatively barren, in the constellation of Aquarius. To resolve the core of stars, a medium sized scope with a fair amount of power is required, from dark sites, of course.  It is about half the size of the most notable globulars visible from Northern skies, namely M13 in Hercules and M22 in Sagittarius.  A nice object.

Location:  Copperbreaks State Park, near Quanah, Texas
Seeing: 5/10 (2.5 FWHM)
Transparency: 8/10
Date and Time: November 19, 2003 @  12:30AM
Equipment: SBIG ST-7E, Tak FSQ-106 @ f/5, and Celestron CGE mount
Length: Four 10 minute exposures binned 1x1.  
Processing Information:  Dark frames, gradient removal, registration and Sigma Combine in MaxIm 3.0.  Levels, Curves, Gaussian Blur and Unsharp Mask in Photoshop 7.  

Exposure Notes:  First light image with the new Celestron CGE mount.

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