Messier/type:M3 / globular cluster
mag/dia/dist:6.3 / 19' / 32,000 ly
constellation:Canes Venatici
date/time/place:Feb 4, 01 / 04:00 / bangkok
trans'y/seeing/l-poll:fair-poor / fair / medium-high
telescope:newtonian 4.5" f8.8
eyepieces/power:25mm / 40x
sky atlas page:7
Start hopping from Arcturus (mag-0.1, 36 ly, luminosity 113 times of the Sun) in Bootes constellation hop to Muphrid (mag3), further hop to stars 6,2,3 & 9. Stars 9, 3 & star mag6.5 forms as a right triangle. M3 locates close to star mag6.5 at the top of that right triangle (just 30'). By located star mag6.5 at center of FOV of finder scope, M3 also appeared in FOV of 25mm eyepiece (1.25 degree at 40x) Made final adjust to center it in FOV of eyepiece, M3 appeared as round, bright nucleus, couldn't resolve stars.
Refer to text: Medium concentration of stars, extremely bright, very large, contains 48,000 stars, extend 220 ly, age 6.5 billion years. just Home
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