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Featured Article

Globular Cluster M13 and the Elusive Propeller

Globular Cluster M13 and the Elusive Propeller


During the summer, the great globular cluster, M13 is located high overhead for observers in the northern hemisphere, allowing for excellent viewing. Observing this cluster back in 1977 with my 4 1/4-inch f/10 reflector, the most I could see was a moderately bright ball of unresolved stars.

While observing M13 with that small reflector, I was unaware of the three dark lanes cutting into the SE edge of the cluster, called the propeller. I'd never heard of the propeller at that time, and this scope was far too small to see this very faint feature. However, thirty-two years later, in May of 2009 using a much larger telescope, I saw it.

A 10-inch telescope might be considered the minimum aperture required to see this most unique shape. If you have plans to observe the "elusive propeller," a magnification of around 200X seems to be the optimum magnification.

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