Blazing Ball of Diamond-like Stars

Messier 5
Sketch and Details by Michael Geldorp

From: geldorpmh@hotmail.com
To: webmaster@asod.info
Subject: ASOD: “Messier 5”–”Michael Geldorp”.
Date: Sun, 14 Feb 2010 19:04:06 -0700

Submission for ASOD:

Object Name (Messier 5 (NGC 5904))
Object Type (Globular Cluster)
Location (Alphen a/d Rijn, Netherlands)
Date (6/25/1998)

This sketch was made using an 8″ Dobsonian (F/6) at 244X magnification under fairly clear skies. I used pencils of various hardness on quality printer paper. The sketch was then scanned into the computer and inverted white-on-black.

My notes for that night read:
“49X: Easily found. Few stars resolved at this power with one star very obvious in the center.
98X: Partially resolved with a grainy core.
203X: Blazing ball of diamond like stars with a bright star to the SSW.
244X: Fully resolved at 244X. Beautiful sight! Stars are seen right across the cluster including in the core. Large round bright center. Stars appear to form arms radiating outward from the center, almost forming circles around the cluster.”

It was the first sketch (first night out in fact) made using the 8″ Dobsonian telescope.

For more information and other sketches please visit http://milou.blackapplehost.com/Astrohomepage/htmlfiles/index2.html

Michael Geldorp