Andromeda Galaxy Globular

[MarkRadice]

Absolutely buzzing! I managed, on my second attempt, to bag the globular cluster in the Andromeda Galaxy some 2.5MLY away from the garden observatory.

Gosh what a challenge with our humid skies! I think this must be one of the most challenging objects I have observed. It required averted vision and high power (x350) to separate the mag 13.6 globular from the adjacent field stars.

In all honesty, the view was nothing special, but it felt pretty inspiring knowing this was a deep sky object not in our own galaxy but across intergalactic space. 

Interestingly, there is research to show that this is not a globular but the core of a galaxy that lost its outer starfields in a collision with the Andromeda Galaxy.  How amazing is that?

 

 

[RobertI]

Amazing result, well done! Impressed that it showed up as a fuzzy ball at that distance.

[Paul M]

Very nice report and video.

I had never heard of this object before reading a report in the EEVA section of SGL. I had a go at imaging it myself in quite poor conditions last year with my 10" f4.7 Newt. I got it but it looked stellar. Maybe next time....

Since then I like to track down M31's Globs in my own and other's images. They aren't easy targets and they are all stellar in appearance.

I think your's is the first visual report of Mayall ii I've noticed and I'm very impressed. It's mind boggling to think about the journey those photons have been on!!

[John]

That's a great result Mark 

This is one of my targets when I next have my 12 inch dobsonian out.

I managed to see the huge nebula NGC 604 in Messier 33 a couple of nights back which re-ignited my interest in these extra-galactic DSO's

[JeremyS]

Nice job Mark 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[Littleguy80]

Nice report, Mark. Got the 10” dob out this evening and successfully observed this intergalactic globular! I’ve seen it once before from my dark site in 2019. Really enjoyed hunting it down so thank you for the inspiration!

[jetstream]

Congrats! Fine observation 👍

[Froeng]

Exciting observation! Well done. Also a very good video…

[MalcolmM]

Fantastic observation! 

I really enjoyed your video too.

That is a very impressive setup you have.

[ScouseSpaceCadet]

Fantastic vid. 👍

[MarkRadice]

Ah cheers all, thank you for your kind comments. 

Easily one of the more inspiring yet dull views I have had at the eyepiece!

I’m up at Kelling at the mo so am recording for the next video (while hoping the skies clear). 

[callisto]

Great video, thanks for sharing 

 

Mark