NGC 5139 – OMEGA CENTAURI

Centauri

 (ra: 13:26.8 / dec -47:29)

T

DATA

TYPE: Globular Cluster

VISUAL MAGNITUDE: 3.68

SIZE: 36.3 arcs minutes

DISTANCE: 16.000 light years

OBJECT DESCRIPTION

Omega Centauri represents the most massive and brightest stellar system in our Galaxy. It is outshined by Globular Cluster G1 in Andromeda Galaxy M31.The globular size spans 150 light years and gathers 10 Million stars which are orbiting its centre. It is similar to the small known galaxies. It can be seen at naked eye even in suburban skies and is a splendid target for any kind of binoculars and telescopes. Omega Centauri had been listed in Ptolemy’s catalogue as a star. In 1677 Edmond Halley was the first to document its non stellar nature.

The image had terrible trails due poor mount aligment. It was corrected in Photoshop. The blur in the core is due to the mentioned trail. This object is posted as a souvenir from our Vacations during February 2008 in Merlo San Luis

IMAGE INFORMATION

SCOPE: Orion ED 80 @f7.5

MOUNT: MEADE LXD 75

SKY CONDITIONS: very good

CAMERA: Canon DSRL 20Da

FILTERS: IDAS LPS

EXPOSSURES: 15 x 15 seconds  

PROCESSED: Darks & Bias removal and Sigma Combine in ImagesPlus, Photoshop CS