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Binocular Highlights in the month of July by Feys Filip

With the hart of the Milky Way climbing higher in the evening sky, we find or selves in globular-cluster season.

Tucked away in the sprawling constellation Ophiuchus is a pair more typical of breed: the M10 and M12.

These Messier globulars are separated by only a little more than 3°, which means they will both fit comfortably within the field of view of most binoculars.

Together they make an attractive pair set against the rich starry background.

The proximity of the M10 to M12 invites comparisons.

What do you see? Are both the same size? The same shape?

Although they are listed as having essentially the same magnitude (6.6 and 6.7, respectively) and apparent size, to they appear equally conspicuous to you?

When you observe the M10 and the M12 you will see a fuzzy small patch like a star out of focus.

This is the bright core of the globular.

If you want to see resolved stars you will need a telescope.

Just imagine that you look at two very dens group of stars between 14000 and 18000 light years away.

What is a Globular cluster?

A spherically symmetric collection of old stars that share a common origin. Globular clusters contain from tens of thousands to millions of stars and measure from 100 to 300 light-years across.
Unlike  open clusters and stellar associations, which are held together only weakly by gravity and contain population I objects, globular clusters are tightly gravitationally bound collections of population II stars. They inhabit the galactic halo and galactic bulge, and show significant concentration toward the galactic centre.

Charts of the constellation Ophiuchus

M10  size 20’                                   M12  size 16’

For more astronomical events and wonders, go to www.sasteria.com

A public observatory in the south-east of Crete.

See you on the next Binocular highlight.

Feys Filip.

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