Messier 3

 Globular Cluster

 In constellation Canes Venatici

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Discovered by Charles Messier in 1764

Stars resolved by William Herschel in 1784

M3 consists of around 500,000 stars and

is located around 33,900 light years away

 and is 90 light years across. 

M3 is estimated to be 8,000,000,000 years old,

which is one the oldest known globular clusters.

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RA 13^h 42^m 11.23^s : DEC +28° 22′ 31.6″

M3 has a magnitude (brightness) of 6.2

and its size is 18'.0

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Imaging Scope : Takahashi Epsilon 160

Focal Length = 530mm [image cropped to fit]

Imaging Camera : Canon EOS 350 DSLR

Guide Scope : William Optics Megrez 80FD

EQ6 Pro GEM Mount : Unguided

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77 x 40 second exposures [51 mins 30 secs]

at ISO 1600. Imaged during 1/4 moon lit skies

Baldrine, Isle of Man, British Isles. 22:10 on 17/03/2008.