To look through a telescope at a globular cluster is to gaze into a bustling stellar metropolis. Unlike the loose, sprawling configurations of open clusters, globular clusters are tightly bound, spherical swarms containing anywhere from tens of thousands to over a million stars, all packed into a region just a few dozen to a couple hundred light-years across. They are among the oldest, most spectacular structures in the universe, serving as living fossils from the dawn of galactic creation.

Come learn what they are, how the formed and why there are so many in the summer sky. You can also read the full article over at Eadsy Astronomy. Please hit subscribe on YouTube and if you have, thank you, it really helps. Also please join our community over at Eadsy Astronomy.  You can have a free membership and that shows me that you find value in what we do here. You can also if you want to help offset some of the costs of apps and other materials used to create this content become a contributing mebmers at the $3 or $5 monthly amount. Thanks to Andy Witt for supporting us! 

The Serpent Bearer's Hoard: Deep Sky Gems in the Constellation of Ophiuchus Observing Program

 

As we begin transitioning from spring to summer, the familiar shape of the Summer Triangle takes center stage high overhead. But if you turn your attention just a bit to the south and west of Aquila, you’ll find one of the most massive, rewarding, and historically rich patches of the warm-season sky: Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer.

For the visual observer, Ophiuchus is an absolute goldmine. It sits right on the doorstep of the galactic core. For an observer to sweep through this sprawling constellation with a telescope is like opening a treasure chest of the deep sky. It is famously home to a massive concentration of globular clusters—dense, ancient swarms of hundreds of thousands of stars that look absolutely magnificent when you throw some aperture and magnification at them. Whether you are using a modest backyard reflector or pulling in faint stellar details with a large-aperture light bucket, these targets offer incredible "discovery moments" at the eyepiece.

But Ophiuchus isn't just about those ghostly, glittering snowball clusters. This region is also packed with fantastic, high-contrast double stars that feature beautiful color splits, as well as subtle, challenging dark nebulae that twist their way through the rich Milky Way star fields, demanding steady skies and averted vision. In addition there are some very interesting planetary nebula sparkled among this constellations jewels. Whether your imaging or visually observing, there is something for everyone in this marvelous constellation.

Please head over to Eadsy Astronomy if you would like to review the program. It includes 3 videos of each level and where to locate them. Also, I include STScI images or my sketches of these objects as part of the guide. You do need to be a member of the community to view the program, whether that is a free membershp or a contributing member. Please subscribe on the YouTube channel and consider becoming a member or a contributing member if you find this information useful.  It really does help. Clear skies to you!