M15 Great Pegasus

DETAILS: Imaged on 9-10-02 with LX200 10" at f5.75, Hutech LPS filter, CFW-8, and ST-10XME, guided by an AO-7 (Adaptive Optics). Imaged in 30 2-minute integrations through a clear filter. Aligned and combined in CalGroups with mild DDP; smoothing, then an unsharp mask applied in MaxIm DL. Not real happy with the results, and it will be replaced later.

COMMENTARY: M15, the Great Pegasus Cluster, is a globular cluster, deriving its name from the constellation in which it is located, at a distance of 30,600 light-years. It is one of several beautiful globulars bright enough to show up easily in binoculars. A 14th magnitude planetary nebula, Pease 1, is a resident of the cluster. Globular clusters consist of mainly old stars as they were amoung the first stars to form in the Galaxy.