Globular drawings

TheBelmontSociety
Globular Cluster Drawings
Updated - 04-24-03
[NOTE]: Best viewed at 1024x768 - smaller fonts

 
Drawing - Globular halo around a galaxy - All drawing images 150 x 150
Globular clusters exist in a spherical halo around
a galaxy
Globular star clusters are fascinating objects. They are not located within the galaxy, but instead they reside in a spherical halo around it.(illustration at left). They are massive collections of suns - tightly wrapped balls of thousands of stars - some spanning over 200 light years of space. Many of the 200 or more globulars which surround our own galaxy are easy to see in amateur telescopes. They are immense objects. Some globulars are twice the size of the Veil Nebula!

Globular clusters can contain hundreds of thousands of stars. The Great Hercules cluster for example, is comprised of about half a million suns. Views of globulars can offer spectacular and breath-taking enjoyment, and there are a great many of them visible with small and medium telescopes.

Included in our catalog of globulars are the Messiers and notable NGC subjects, plus some challenging Palomars, and a few hard-to-reach "specials" such as Ton-2 in Scorpius. In fact, just to view our drawings of Palomar 4, 11, and 12 may require averted vision! It may seem at first that there's nothing there, but it will pop out at you eventually. 

For the best images of globulars, use a medium to large aperture, and a good quality eyepiece. We recommend Orthoscopics for their crisp image fidelity ($58 from University Optics). Eyeglass wearers should consider moderate-power Orthos with a good Barlow, or high power Vixen Lanthanums for their long eye-relief (their standard-field version is best for globulars - $110).


...Aquarius
Drawing - Globular cluster - M2
M-2 is a majestic globular. It is also monsterously large, and a stunning showpiece at moderate power. It's a swarm of over a hundred thousand stars spanning across 170 light years of space. From 37,000 light years away it is easy game in small instruments. Some observers see a blue halo, and under high power, even a few red giants. There's not much else in the area to help find it except for a light cluster-like association of binocular stars (in a more or less straight line) that point directly at it. A 10th magnitude star is in the same field of view.
17-inch Dob
.
To illustrate just how big globular clusters are, picture this: The Rosette Nebula is a massive agglomeration of gas and dust that spans across 130 light years of space. If both objects were placed side-by-side, the nebula would be dwarfed by this globular. M-2 is 40 light years bigger in diameter!

Drawing - Globular cluster - M72
M-72 is classified as a loose (or "open") globular. At a distance of 57,000 light years, it spreads across 100 light years of space, and shines at only 9th magnitude. Its brightest stars, at 14th magnitude, will require larger apertures to resolve. The core is shaped somewhat like a five-pointed star. We show it here as it looks through a medium aperture.
8-inch SCT

...Aquila
Drawing - globular cluster - Pal-11 - 150 x 150
Palomar 11
The 15 Palomar globulars are very faint. Some suffer from extinction - they are "hidden" from view by prodigious quantities of galactic dust; and some (even the most dense and massive) suffer the curse of enormous distance. Most are visible only in very large apertures. According to some observers, this is one of the brightest Palomar globulars - at magnitude 9.8. But we weren't able to prove it - our sky was awash in unrelenting fits of intermittent turbulence. We did manage to glimpse a few brighter knots inside a fuzz-ball now and then, but the overall effect was disappointing. It should look much better than this under more stable skies. Pal-11 is a little more than 42,000 light years distant.
RA: 19 45 14.4 DEC: -08 00 26
20-inch Dob

...Ara
Drawing - Globular cluster - NGC-6397
One of the two nearest globular clusters to us, NGC 6397 is only about 7,200 light years distant (only M-4 is closer). This bright cluster shines at a visual magnitude of 5.9. But Messier never saw it because it is visible only from southern latitudes. It makes a very impressive image in any size telescope.
11-inch SCT

...Auriga
Drawing - Globular cluster - Palomar-2
Palomar 2
Pal-2 is a showpiece among the Palomar globulars. But at 13th magnitude it's barely more than a smudge - even in large instruments (very dark and still skies are mandatory for dim objects like these). Pal-2 lies near the plane of our galaxy behind an immense shrouding veil of dust (otherwise it would be 1.2 magnitudes brighter). This is the only known globular in Auriga.
RA: 04 46 05.9 Dec: +31 22 51
20-inch Dob

...Canes Vanatici
Drawing - Globular cluster - M3
M-3 lies in a relatively star-poor region, but it's situated near some handy field stars, so it's fairly easy to find. There's a bluish star in the field of view, and a 7th magnitude yellow-orange star not too far away. This globular sometimes displays colors in the eyepiece. On clear and still nights the center appears pinkish. Other times it will look tan. O'Meara sees peach. There is also the illusion of a green halo. At any rate, this globular is a thrill in almost any telescope. This image was rendered over time, (several weeks) with different apertures, from a TV-85 to a 20-inch Dob, and from widefield all the way up to 900 power.

...Capricornus
Drawing - globular cluster - Pal-12 - 150 x 150
Palomar 12
Except for a trio of stars that sit close to the southeast, this globular appears to have reserved a lonely dark place all for itself - hardly anything else is visible in the field. More notable is the fact that we could actually resolve a few stars in this distant cluster. Though it's mostly a fuzzy blur with no core brightness, it is still willing to yield a few secrets to large apertures. There appears to be a horseshoe-shaped chunk missing from the north edge. Two faint central "lines" of stars can be seen traversing from NE to SW. Pal-12 is 63,000 light years distant.
RA: 21 46 38.8 DEC: -21 15 03
24-inch Dob

...Carina
Drawing - Globular cluster - NGC-2808
NGC-2808
This globular can be fully resolved in a 12-inch scope. It is quite bright, at magnitude 6.8. Andrew Murell ("Universe") calls it "...a cross between 47 Tucanae and Omega Centauri". Visible only from southern latitudes. Drawn by Art Krohl in the Florida Keys.
7-inch refractor

...Centaurus
Drawing - Globular cluster - Omega Centauri
The most massive of all known globulars, Omega Centauri contains as much mass as the smallest of galaxies! It shines so brightly, (4th magnitude) that Ptolemy cataloged it as a major star in Centaurus. It is 17,000 light years distant, and is 150 light years in diameter. It is fairly well resolved in larger scopes. Drawn by Art Krohl.
Large Alvan Clark refractor

...Columba
Drawing - globular cluster - NGC-1851 - 150 x 150
NGC 1851
One of the brighter NGC globulars, NGC-1851 has a lot to offer. It is bright enough for smaller scopes, and flaunts itself in medium apertures. Resolves well in medium instruments at dark sites. A pronounced halo and some nice tendrils are visible in a 10-inch.
13-inch Dob

...Coma Berenices
Drawing - Globular cluster - M53
Depending on what source you read, M-53 is anywhere from 53,000 to 70,000 light years distant. A fairly moot point. But what all sources agree on, is that this is one huge globular cluster. It spans over 200 light years of space! Some sources list it at 250 light years. Though it's difficult in small and medium scopes, the core begins to dissolve into stars in a 16-inch aperture. 
13-inch Dob

...Corona Australis
Drawing - Globular cluster - NGC-6541
NGC- 6541
We have very little data or information on this globular but it's quite large and bright. One of the dozen or so NGC globulars that are easiest for backyard telescopes. At about 15,000 light years away, and at magnitude 6.6, it is visible as a light smudge in good binoculars. Visible only in southern latitudes.
11-inch SCT

...Hercules
Drawing - Globular cluster - M13 - The Great Hercules Cluster
The Great Hercules Cluster
M-13 is a sobering sight in medium and large telescopes. Almost half a million suns packed into a ball 140 light years wide. It responds well (and seems to flaunt itself) under high power. We've seen some great views of this cluster with a TV-85. But the best views we've seen of M-13 are with larger Dobs. Bigger apertures seem to make it sparkle more. It can almost seem as though the process of nuclear fusion is perceivable at the eyepiece.
20-inch Dob

Drawing - Globular cluster - M92
With a linear diameter of 85 light years, and containing over 300,000 stars, this cluster deserves to be amoung the top vote-getters at star parties. M-92 is visible to the naked eye in dark places. It's over 14 billion years old, and makes a beautiful image in the eyepiece of any size telescope. Yet it gets little respect. That's because its cousin, M-13, (who lives in the same neighborhood) gets all the accolades and credit. There are 14 RR Lyrae type variables here, one of which is eclipsing - rare in globular clusters as there are so many chances for catastrophic close encounters.
20-inch Dob

Drawing - globular cluster - Pal-14 - 150 x 150
Palomar 14
This is a difficult globular to catch even in monster apertures. So tough in fact, that it was easy to render. Even with apparently good seeing conditions, a smudgy blur is all we saw, (regardless of power) so a smudgy blur is all we drew. We did not see it in a 17-inch aperture, and it was barely discernible in a 20-inch. Though there's a semi-defined, finite "edge" to the blur, there is no semblance of a core or even a halo to speak of. There is a bright star SE, and another SSE, plus a straw-colored star to the north. Very close to the north limb is another bright star. A close pair of stars hugs the SW limb. Pal-14 is not likely to be visible in anything less than a 20-inch aperture. The drawing was rendered mostly at moderate power. High magnification doesn't seem to help. North is down.
RA: 16 11 05 DEC: +14 57 29
25-inch Dob

...Horologium
Drawing - globular cluster - NGC-1261 - 150 x 150
NGC-1261
This globular is quite nice in medium apertures. At magnitude 8.4 it resolves fairly well in a 13-inch scope at moderate power. A trianglular blaze in the core (with a few resolved dark lanes) points north like an arrow head. A few trailing tendrils are visible - the most dominant starts at the NW hub and flows outward to the northeast. Accessible only in the southern hemisphere, this is one of the best NGC globulars for medium apertures.
13-inch Dob

...Hydra
Drawing - Globular cluster - M68
M-68 is 33,000 light years distant, but at magnitude 7.5, it's fairly easy for small instruments and binoculars. It's bright and full of busy detail in larger apertures, and there are several noticeable bays and coves. There's a triangular section that appears to have been munched out of the north side. Also, if you look long enough at medium power, it appears to be criss-crossed with thin lines of darkness.
13-inch Dob

...Lepus
Drawing - Globular cluster - M79
M-79 lies adjacent to the double star Herschel 3752, in a lonely corner of a constellation with few other objects of interest. At magnitude 7.6, it's fairly easy game for smaller scopes, and is visible in binoculars. At low power it can be mistaken for an 8th magnitude star - it's a very tight globular. Although O'Meara sees a distinct starfish shape, we detect a similar configuration, but not a clean star-shaped outline. It is pleasing in even smaller apertures, and it appears to resolve easily, although larger scopes are needed to bring out individual members of 14th magnitude. Use a good quality Orthoscopic eyepiece.
11-inch SCT

...Lynx
Drawing - globular cluster - NGC-2419 - 150 x 150
NGC 2419
What initially attracted us to this cluster was the fact that it was once thought to be an interloper - a homeless nomad, destined to forever roam the voids of intergalactic space. It certainly seemed likely, as this is one of the 6 most remote cluster known, at a distance of over 350,000 light years! In fact, it is indexed as an "intergalactic wanderer" on a great many observing lists. But now it is realized to be within the realm of our galactic gravitational influence. You won't see much detail unless you have a large aperture (10-inches or more). In spite of its fuzzy countenance, the core appears quite bright. With dark adaptation, a thin line of brightness bisects the entire central hub from southeast to northwest. This globular will appear only as a pale smudge in apertures smaller than 10-inches. However, it's relatively easy to find. There's a bright trio of 7th and 8th magnitude field stars in an arc that point directly at it. In fact, the glare from the closest of these stars is quite bothersome when trying to see any detail in the cluster. Two of the three are shown to the right in our drawing. One of them appears to be a double. 
17-inch Dob

...Lyra
Drawing - Globular cluster - M56
M-56 lies almost exactly between Albireo and Gamma Lyrae. If you sweep from one to the other you'll stumble upon it. It is 31,000 light years distant, and about 60 light years in diameter. In binoculars and small scopes at low power it looks like a comet. It's a loose grayish blob of a globular, but at high power it's fairly easy to resolve in larger apertures - its brighter stars are 13th magnitude. There is a 10th magnitude star in the field (to the right in our drawing).
11-inch SCT

...Musca
Drawing - globular cluster - NGC-4833 - 150 x 150
NGC 4833
As far as northern observers are concerned, southern constellations and their inhabitants are relegated to the basement of obscurity. But even to southern observers, this object suffers from the curse of indifference. The reason for that is because it's a rather large but poorly concentrated globular, so it gets little respect in small and medium apertures. In 8 and 10-inch tubes the core is bright but shrunken, and the halo appears off-center to the south. However, several tendrils and star-chains can be seen in larger scopes, and the core exhibits a good amount of detail. Extended viewing provokes the impression of a tick. A 9th magnitude field star sits close to the north limb.
17-inch Dob

...Ophiuchus
Drawing - Globular cluster - M9
M-9 is about 26,000 light years distant. It's one of the nearest globulars to our Galaxy's nucleus (about 7,500 light years). It's about 60 light years in diameter, and is listed at magnitude 7.7, but is dimmed at least a full magnitude by dust and dark nebulae. Not very easy to extract any detail, even with higher power. M-10 and M-12 are much brighter.
8-inch Newtonian

Drawing - Globular cluster - M10
At a little over 14,000 light years away, and at magnitude 6.5, M-10 is easy pickings for good binoculars and small and medium telescopes. On clear and still nights, a lot of detail can be seen in this globular. Slipping in a Barlow will add more detail and resolution. At times there is a hint of color here - a slightly golden center. In larger scopes there is a dimmer area that comes and goes with seeing and dark adaptation. It covers a third of the surface and can resemble a triangular section of skin peeled from an orange. In small, good quality apertures, it has a ghostly 3-dimensional appearance with a coal-like sparkle.
11-inch SCT

Drawing - Globular cluster - M12
M-12 is about 3.5 degrees northwest of M-10, and is also visible in binoculars (you get both in one field of view). This is a loose cluster. It's O'Meara's Gumball Globular - a very colorful image. Use medium power for an overall effect, and a larger aperture to resolve the 12th magnitude stars in the core. A very nice globular in any backyard scope.
14-inch Dob

Drawing - globular cluster - M-14 - 150 x 150
M-14 sits in a sparsely populated patch of sky near 47 Ophiuchi. In a 10-inch aperture it covers about 10 arc minutes of field, and exhibits a fair amount of detail. The core is bright, and at dark locations appears tan in color. M-14 is 33,000 light years distant, and shines at magnitude 7.6. We've tried this globular at various powers, and in several different aperture sizes. In medium tubes it gives the impression of having been swiped from south to north with a giant gum eraser. Our favorite combination is the 11-inch SCT at moderate power, but high magnification brings out a curious glow in the southern limb that shimmers with an almost orange sparkle. At low power there appears to be a wide rift that runs north-south.
11-inch SCT

Drawing - Globular cluster - M19
M-19 is an extremely egg-shaped globular. In fact, it's listed as the most "oblate" globular known - being almost twice as long as it is wide. The deformation is likely due to its proximity (4,600 ly) to the galactic core. At 27,000 light years distant, which isn't very far away as globulars go, it is quite visible in any telescope. Resolution increases dramatically with apperture. It is fully resolved in a 20-inch Dob at 230 power. It is sometimes reminiscent of a large sugar-coated beetle.
20-inch Dob

Drawing - Globular cluster - M62
M-62 is another Messier globular (like M-19) living close to the galactic core. Its 14 billion year existence under that kind of gravitational influence might be the cause of the cluster's odd shape. It appears to have been taffy-pulled, squashed, and blown up. At moderate power, this cluster appears to twinkle - at times to even shimmer. Plus, it can trick you into seeing colors (rusty red, gold, and even blue). This is another one of those globulars suspected of having undergone a core collapse. At 6th magnitude, it should be easy pickings for small scopes. 
17-inch Dob

Drawing - globular cluster M107 - 150 x 150
Though it's not a great subject for binoculars, M-107 is fairly easy to grab in small and medium telescopes. It sits almost in the center of an asterism of four stars that make up a cross. At magnitude 7.8, and at 19,000 light years distant, this is a curious-looking globular (it doesn't seem as bright as it should be). In a medium aperture it has a skeletal look about it - as though it were stripped of something, like a light bulb minus the outer glass, with only a glowing filament to light the room. With dark adaptation, what initially looks like individual stars, resolves into bright lines criss-crossed and interrupted by dark lanes. Lengthy observations provoke a patchwork appearance.
11-inch SCT

Drawing - Globular cluster - NGC-6356
NGC 6356 
At magnitude 8.4, this globular is fairly easy to spot with medium scopes. It lies just 1.2 degrees northeast of M-9. Though it shows a bright core, it's somewhat of a challenge. It's brighter stars are 14th and 15th magnitude.
8-inch Newtonian

...Pegasus
Drawing - Globular cluster - M15 - 24-inch Dob; Alvan Clark; high power - 150 x 150
Drawing - (c) Belmont Society - M15 w/Pease-1 - 150 x 150
M-15 is probably the most densely concentrated globular associated with our galaxy. Its core has undergone a process of severe collapse (which is common in globulars). This was once thought to be due to the presense of a central black hole. There are dark bays and coves at the limbs that seem to grow more expansive with dark adaptation. The top drawing was done using a 24-inch Dob at extremely high power. The bottom drawing is from a 13-inch Dob. The cluster contains a hundred variables, a planetary nebula (Pease-1)*.and 9 known pulsars, remnants of prehistoric supernova explosions. An interesting feature in M-15 is the existence of a pulsar-binary - with a neutron star companion.
24-inch Dob; very high power.

*.NOTE: If you have a chart, and if you know where and HOW to look, you can see a planetary nebula within this globular. It is possible to view Pease-1 with amateur telescopes. ("Blink" with a UHC or O-III filter). We've denoted it with a reddish dot at the upper left (NE) in the bottom drawing. See the help page on Doug Snyder's blackskies.com website. Visit his Homepage. Excellent website!
13-inch Dob


...Sagittarius
Drawing - Globular cluster - M22
M-22 is an extraordinary object. At a distance of 10,000 light years, it's one of the closer globular clusters. It's angular diameter of 24 arc minutes translates to a linear diameter of about 65 light years. At dark sites it is visible to the naked eye, and is a good deal brighter than M-13 (the Great Hercules Cluster). In fact, it's outdone only by Omega Centauri and 47 Tucanae as the three brightest globulars in the sky. It has long been our favorite, and therefore deserves a premier place in our catalog. This image is an updated version.
17-inch Dob

Drawing - Globular cluster - M28
M-28 gets no respect because of who else resides in the neighborhood. It is less than a third the apparent size of M-22, and is almost two magnitudes fainter. Nevertheless, it makes a nice image on its own in any backyard telescope.
11-inch SCT

Drawing - Globular cluster - M30
M-30 is a very big globular at over 90 light years in overall diameter. It is easy to see with the naked eye at a dark site, and is fairly accessible to small instruments. It moves rapidly through the galactic halo at over a hundred miles per second. With good darkness and the right optics, M-30 is a shock in the eyepiece. It appears to have exploded out its front (north) side, and the debris is trailing in the wind, tossing a wake of spangled dust. With small apertures, (and less than perfect optics) such as that used by Messier, it can easily look like a comet. Drawn by Art Krohl in the Florida Keys.
Large Alvan Clark refractor

Drawing - Globular cluster - M54
Until recently, M-54 was estimated to be about 50 to 65,000 light years away. But in 1994 it was discovered that this globular was probably not part of our Milky Way galaxy at all, but was instead a member of a newly discovered dwarf galaxy! This galaxy is now called "SagDEG", (Sagittarius Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy) and is one of the most recently discovered galaxies in the Local Group. The dwarf elliptical and M54 are both receding from us at very similar velocities. This makes it probable that M54 is attached to that elliptical, which is now estimated at a distance of 88,700 light years. At this distance, M54 would be one of the most luminous globular clusters known, second only to Omega Centauri.
11-inch SCT

Drawing - Globular cluster - M55
M-55 is about 18,000 light years distant but quite large in apparent size - two thirds of a full moon. It is also loosely packed enough to give a good impression in binoculars. It can be a challenge in northern latitudes, but it's an excellent image in any telescope. 
17-inch Dob

Drawing - Globular cluster - M69
M-69 is near the southwest corner of the teapot. At magnitude 7.5 it is fairly visible with smaller instruments. At low power it's a fuzzy agglomeration just south of a bluish 8th magnitude star. This is one of those clusters in "Globular Alley", that is dimmed by extinction through intergalactic dust. Higher power will bring out more resolution, and larger apertures will begin to extract some individual stars. At dark sites, and on still nights, there are several lanes of light and dark streaks and slashes.
8-inch Newtonian

Drawing - Globular cluster - M70
M-70 lies at the center of the teapot's base. It's an 8th magnitude globular, about the same distance from us (34,000 light years) as M-69. It needs larger apertures to bring out details, and resolve the core somewhat. 
8-inch Newtonian

Drawing - Globular cluster - M75
M-75 is one of the most far-away Messier globulars at about 60,000 light years distant. However, at magnitude 8.5 it's fairly easy for smaller scopes. With high power and the help of larger apertures, the 14th magnitude stars in the core will begin to resolve. 
7-inch refractor

Drawing - Globular cluster - NGC-6638
Illustration - 3 globulars - 150 x 150

NGC-6638
At 9th magnitude this is one of the dozen or so NGC globulars for medium backyard scopes. It's a very nice image. With the right optics, and a superwide field of view, you can get M-28 and M-22 in the same shot (the three are only a few degrees apart). However, this globular and M-28 will look rather pathetic compared to M-22, but then any northern globular does!
8-inch Newtonian

Bottom illustration:
With low power in widefield optics you can see these three globulars in one field of view. However, M-22 will be so dominant that the other two will seem almost unnoticeable. NGC 6638 is just east of Lambda Sagittarii.


Drawing - globular cluster Pal-9 - 150 x 150
Palomar 9
This obscure globular is listed as NGC 6717 on Chart 22 of the SkyAtlas 2000.0. It's located very close to 5th magnitude 35 Sagittarii. Pal-9 lies 23,000 light years distant, and about 8,000 light years from the galactic center. It is considered one of the "easier" Palomar globulars, but of course a very dark sky is required to view it.
RA: 18 55 6 DEC: -22 42 00
There is a triplet of 13th magnitude stars bracketing the northeast limb, plus a lone star of similar magnitude at the northwest and also on the south. North is down.
20-inch Dob

...Scorpius
Drawing - Globular cluster - M4
At a distance of only 6,800 light years, M-4 is the nearest known globular. It can be a naked eye object under still skies, but if Antares is twinkling - forget about it (M-4 is just 1.5 degrees away). However, at magnitude 5.5, it is easy pickings for good binoculars and any telescope. We occasionally think we see a greenish halo around the western edge (the side nearest Antares). While you're here, examine the whole region. Astrophotos show this area (centered around Rho Ophiuchi) to be painted in gaudy colors - red, blue, and even yellow.
8-inch Newtonian

Drawing - Globular cluster - M80
M-80 resides in the same scenic neighborhood as Antares and globular M-4. The Milky Way carpet is stunning here, and astrophotos reveal brilliant arrays of color. At 27,000 light years distant, and at 7th magnitude, this globular is easy in small scopes and binoculars. It's a very dense cluster, and the resolution of individual 13th and 14th magnitude members is difficult - although achievable. O'Meara's description and drawing bear resemblance to a clover leaf pattern, but at moderate power we see more of a three-toed paw print.
8-inch Newtonian

Drawing - globular cluster - Ton 2 - 150 x 150
Ton 2 (Tonantzintla-2)
Because it's so faint, this is one of the most difficult and challenging objects we've ever done. It is certainly our most difficult globular. Located near the galactic bulge at 21,000 light years distant, it is well hidden behind countless light years of extinction. Plus, it has been erroneously cataloged, which makes it even harder to find.
The correct coordinates are:
RA: 17 36 10.5  DEC: -38 33 12
At magnitude 12.2 it appears only as a blur in all but the largest of instruments. It does not resolve well in amateur telescopes, and isn't very attainable in medium apertures. However, with a large aperture at 240 power, there is a suggestion of dark lanes and trailing arms and tendrils on the western limb, but no discernible core or halo. There is a "bright" resolvable star near the center - probably a foreground field star, of around 13th magnitude. With extended viewing and dark adaptation, the stellar background fills-in to become distracting. Only the darkest and calmest skies will render this globular with any clarity whatsoever. If you can view it with any certainty, you may assume that you have a dark and clear location. It's a great challenge, and for that reason - a rewarding sight!
20-inch Dob

...Sculptor
Drawing - globular cluster - NGC-288 - 150 x 150
NGC-288 is located just 1.5 degrees southeast of the Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253). With widefield optics you can get both subjects in one field of view, although N253 will be very dim. This globular is easy in small telescopes, and is fairly crisp in medium apertures. It lies 40,000 light years distant, and shines at magnitude 8.1. Showing a bright core in 8-inch tubes, it gets dramatically better in slightly larger apertures. In a 13-inch at moderate power, the core is criss-crossed with bright and dark lanes - provoking a patchwork appearance with spikes and tendrils in all directions. This globular (like many others) makes an awesome subject in a large refractor with a good Ortho.
13-inch Dob

...Serpens (Caput)
Drawing - Globular cluster - M5
M-5 ranks 3rd among the most dominant globulars in the Northern sky, and is the 5th easiest to observe in the entire heavens. This is the best northern globular for small telescopes. If you have the luxury of a dark site, this globular exhibits some color. It appears tan or slightly pink in the center, and a dusty blue at the halo and outer edges. As a bonus, just a few arc minutes away is the edge of a massive galaxy cluster - about 200 galaxies per square degree of space. Four degrees west of M-5, adjacent to the star 110 Virginis, are a group of galaxies (at least eight) that are all visible in small telescopes at moderate power.
14-inch Dob

...Tucana
Drawing - Globular cluster - 47 Tuc
47 Tucanae (NGC-104) is the second brightest globular associated with our galaxy. But it lies in such a southerly latitude that it isn't seen by amateurs in the northern hemisphere. This globular is a breathtaking sight in virtually any telescope. Our drawing was rendered by Art Krohl using a large refractor.
Large Alvan Clark refractor

Drawing - globular cluster - NGC362 - 150 x 150
NGC 362
There are some fabulous globulars in the south that observers in the northern hemisphere just don't get to see. Sadly, many of these are neglected because 47 Tucanae draws all the attention. NGC 362 is located just north of the Small Magellanic Cloud, and is usually overlooked because of that object's brightness and 47 Tuc's dominance. This globular is very bright in the eyepiece, and a marvel in medium and large apertures.
Alvan Clark refractor

...Ursa Major
Drawing - globular cluster - Pal-4 - 150 x 150
Palomar 4
This is one of those "extreme halo" globulars that are virtually impossible to view without the best of seeing conditions in the darkest of skies. It is a massive globular, but it's the second most distant at 356,000 light years. Hubble discovered it in 1949, but it appeared so dim that it was classified as a dwarf eliptical galaxy, or "The Ursa Major Dwarf". At magnitude 14.2, and with its brightest stars at 18th magnitude, it is easy to imagine why this globular is so elusive. There are a few 10th & 12th magnitude stars in the field for reference. We originally failed to find it with a 17-inch aperture. It was barely discernible with a 20-inch (less than perfect conditions). The 24-inch finally picked it up with averted vision under better skies.
RA: 11 29 16.8 DEC: +28 58 25
24-inch Dob

...Vela
Drawing - Globular cluster - NGC-3201
NGC 3201
Another NGC globular that's easy for southern backyard scopes (7th magnitude). We don't have much information or data here. 
10-inch SCT

American flag - 73 x 50..In Memorium