frank5817
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 3041
Loc: Illinois
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Globular Cluster M-62 (NGC 6266)
In the halo of the Milky Way our home galaxy there are about 160 or so globular clusters orbiting the galactic center. Like life forms they are mostly alike but each is uniquely different in size, shape, density, chemistry, and the like. At 22,500 light years (l.y.) from us this globular is only 6100 l.y. from the galactic center. This cluster is also known to be distorted in shape from spherical due to tidal forces acting upon it by the galactic center. More than 200 RR Lyrae variable stars reside in this globular, a much higher number than most and in the spring of 2002 Chandra X-ray Observatory discovered a rich population of close X-ray emitting binary stars in this globular. M-62 is located on the Ophiuchus side of the constellation border with Scorpius. From my location near Chicago it never rises higher than 19° above the southern horizon. But even on an average night it is an impressive sight in a moderate telescope. This globular cluster was discovered by Charles Messier 237 years ago last month.
Other Features for M-62
R.A.17hrs. 1 min.; Dec. -30°7 min. Epoch 2000
Average distance between stars 0.25 l.y.
Diameter 100 l.y. across 14 arc minutes
Visual magnitude 6.5
Sketching:
9”x11” white sketching paper; 6B, 4B, HB graphite pencils and a blending stump;
Scanned and inverted; brightness of some stars adjusted with MS Paint.
Scope: 10” f/5.7 Dobsonian: 24 mm widefield eyepiece 60x and 12 mm eyepiece 121x
Date and Time: 7-2-2008, 4:00-4:40 UT
Seeing: Pickering 6/10
Transparency: Below average 2/5
NELM: 4.4
Frank McCabe 
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perfessor
sage
Reged: 12/30/07
Posts: 321
Loc: Northern Illinois
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Very nice Frank. Thanks also for the detailed description, it adds a lot. You've captured all the textures that make globulars fun to examine: resolved stars on top of grainy fluff on top of smooth background glow.
I'll have to try my hand at this "inverted field" type of drawing. 
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Tom
"Don't always know what I'm talkin about"
8" f/7
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Tommy5
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/28/04
Posts: 1391
Loc: Chicagoland
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Very nice view of a sharp little cluster.
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cildarith
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/26/04
Posts: 2122
Loc: San Diego, CA
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Frank, this is an excellent sketch of M62 showing its asymmetrical character!
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Eric
6" f/6 Parks Newtonian
10x50 Bushnell Binocs
CN Sketch Gallery
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frank5817
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 3041
Loc: Illinois
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Tom, Tommy5, and Eric,
Thank you all. 
Frank
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rodelaet
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/28/06
Posts: 2655
Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium)
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Frank,
I do love your deep-sky work also. 
You've put a lot of detail in the assymetric appearance of this (for my latitude too low) beautiful globular.
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Rony
My Astronomy Sketches
My Binocular Sketches
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frank5817
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 3041
Loc: Illinois
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Rony, Thanks, it is almost too low for me as well.
Frank
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Achernar
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/25/06
Posts: 3721
Loc: Alabama, USA
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Franks' drawing of M-62 is very good. The asymmetrical shape is quite obvious in a 10-inch, as though M-62 was hurled through the sky like a fireworks shell. He rendered M-62's odd shape very nicely, which is thought to be caused by the enormous tidal forces the Milky Way's nuclear bulge is exerting on M-62.
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10-inch F/4.5 Discovery Dob
6-inch F/8 Homebuilt Dob
4 1/4-inch F/4 Homebuilt reflector
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frank5817
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 3041
Loc: Illinois
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Taras,
Thank you for your comments and additions. It is always good to hear from you. Clear skies and great viewing to you.
Frank
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mickmrn1
member
Reged: 05/18/08
Posts: 25
Loc: Mesa, Arizona
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Impressive sketch Frank! Thank you for sharing!
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Michelle D.
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frank5817
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 3041
Loc: Illinois
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Michelle,
Thank you.
This would be an easy one for you in Mesa in the early night.
Frank
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CarlosEH
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/19/05
Posts: 3115
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
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Frank,
An excellent and very realistic observation of M62 (NGC 6266). I feel as if observing alongside you at the eyepiece. Thank you for sharing it with us all.
Carlos
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frank5817
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 3041
Loc: Illinois
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Carlos,
Thank you. I hope you get some observing and sketching time soon.
Frank
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Sol Robbins
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/01/03
Posts: 1540
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Fantastic sketch Frank!
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Sol Robbins
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frank5817
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 3041
Loc: Illinois
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Sol,
Thank you much. I really do enjoy the deep sky sights that hold up well in poor skies.
Frank
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