Current Info for Observer
as of 04/26/2024 4:33 p.m.
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General Info
| Type | Globular Cluster |
| Constellation | Hercules |
| Right ascension | 16h41'41.400'' |
| Declination | +36°28'36'' |
| Magnitude | 5.800 |
| Distance | 22,800ly |
| Size | 16.600 arc min |
| Catalog Designations | NGC6205, M13 |
| Discovered | 1714 Edmond Halley |
Generate a finder chart
The following form will generate a PDF finder chart suitable for printing using to locate objects in the sky with your telescope!
The Date is only really useful for solar system objects, as deep space objects move measurably only on a galactic timescale.
The larger the F.O.V (field of view), the more "zoomed out" the object will appear. It can be helpful to print several charts of the same object with different field of views.
Limiting the magnitude (remember, lower magnitude means brighter!) of stars and objects can make sure your chart is not cluttered with dim objects that you may not be visible to you anyway. The defaults are good, but try experimenting with raising and lowering the values.
cyc66 (2891)
Celestron Omni XLT 150
30 points
Tracked it for some time, lost it in the clouds, found it again after clouds passed some 10 minutes later. Appeared to be a large faint smudge. Was easier to see with averted vision.
Austin (5562)
Orion 10'' SkyQuest dobsonian
30 points
I got an email from Rick saying he would be at the observatory tonight for an occultation, so I thought I'd head over with the scope for a chance to do some astrophotography and observing.
I set up the scope in the front "yard" of the dome and took a quick look at m13. Impressive as always, this was my first observation this year.
Huge globular cluster with hundreds of resolvable stars, there are even asterisms within the cluster itself that are visible.
HamilTiller (5560)
Celestron 127eq
30 points
I had searched for this previously with no luck, so I was surprised at how easily I located it this time, especially on such a bright night. It looked like a perfect fuzzy ball, it reminded me of a dandelion. I could not resolve any individual stars this time, but will try again on a darker night.
TractionMan (1725)
Opticron Imagic TGA WP 10x50
30 points
Went out last night during the peak of the Lyrid meteor shower. The main purpose was of course to watch and try to photograph the Lyrids, but I brought my binoculars as well, just in case. Scanned Hercules and it didn't take long to find M13. Of course not as impressive through binos as through a scope, but still nice to spot it again.
Codey737 (2960)
Celestron AstroMaster 114EQ
30 points
Giant glob of stars! Stars here and there and everywhere! Wasn't the greatest night to view the sky but I got to see the a great cluster.
Despite being one of the best Globulars in the sky, I always have trouble with this one. I think Hercules is just too ambiguous of a constellation. He's large and dim and just hard to piece together.
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