M70

 

M70, like its neighbor M69, is a small, faint globular cluster in Sagittarius. At visual magnitude 8, the cluster requires optical aid to be seen. Lying 29,000 light years from Earth, it is also quite close to the core of the Milky Way and thus is subject to relatively strong gravitaional force. Also like M69, this cluster is poor in variables, with only 2 known at present. M70 has a very dense core and probably has experienced a core collapse at some time in its history. The cluster is famous for having been the object observed by Alan Hale and Thomas Bopp when they discovered the great comet which bears their name.

Image taken September 8, 2012, with the C-14 operating at F:7 and the ST-8 camera binned 2 X 2. Exposure is 5 mintues, using Track and Accumulate.