Omega Centauri (NGC 5139)

clic for 30% size 1238 x 933 (540 kB)

clic for 50% size 2124 x 1600 (1400 kB)


About this Image

The globular cluster NGC 5139 in Centaurus is the most massive star cluster with approx. 5 million suns. It is situated approx. 16,000 light-years away. Most of the stars in this image belong to this huge cluster.
Many of the yellow-white stars smaller than our Sun, numerous yellow-orange Red Giants and many hot blue old straggler stars are featuring a nice color contrast in this huge and dense cluster.
North is down.

Below you see a crop of the center at 50/100% size.

clic for 100% size 1500 x 1300 (759 kB)


Technical Details
Optics

TEC-140 APO refractor with TEC flattener at f/7

Mount AP-400 GEM
Camera SBIG STL-11000M at -25C, internal filter wheel
Filters LRGB
Date May 23, 2006.
Location Hakos/Namibia
Sky Conditions mag 6.5, high transparency, temperature 10 C,
Exposure LRGB= 40:40:30:40 min (10-minute sub-exposures)
all 1x1.
Processing Image aquisition and calibration in Maxim DL 4.11;
Photoshop: curves, color balance;