Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Hercules (Her)  ·  Contains:  HD150679  ·  HD150998  ·  Hercules Globular Cluster  ·  IC 4617  ·  M 13  ·  NGC 6205
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M13 and its propeller shadow, crobin
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M13 and its propeller shadow

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
M13 and its propeller shadow, crobin
Powered byPixInsight

M13 and its propeller shadow

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Description

Located in the constellation Hercules, the Globular Cluster M13, also known as the Great Hercules Cluster, has fascinated astronomers for centuries. One of its most intriguing features is the elusive "propeller shadow »where stars at the cluster's edges appear as a spinning propeller blade. This phenomenon presents a significant challenge for observation and study due to the cluster's immense distance—approximately 25,000 light-years away—and its dense core, which makes resolving individual stars difficult even with advanced telescopes.

Recently, breakthroughs in astrophotography techniques have enabled astronomers to capture stunning images of M13, revealing intricate details within its densely packed core. Utilizing long exposure times and sophisticated image processing algorithms.

Interestingly, efforts to communicate with potential extraterrestrial civilizations have included M13 as a target. In 1974, the Arecibo Observatory transmitted a binary-coded message towards M13, albeit it will take tens of thousands of years for any potential response to reach us due to the vast distances involved.

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M13 and its propeller shadow, crobin