M4 in Scorpius
Canon 30D Unmodified
15x120sec at 1600 ISO
30 Darks/Flat/Bias
Orion ED80
Globular Cluster M4 In Scorpius
One of the nearest globulars at 7200 light years, M4 would be one of the most splendid globulars in the sky if it were not obscured by heavy clouds of dark interstellar matter in the vicinity of Antares. M4 is one of the most open, or loose, globulars and displays a peculiar 'barred' pattern in it's core, as can be seen in these photos.
Also, in the lower left corner, notice how the stars are thinning out due to the influence of the dark lanes of nebulosity around the Rho Ophiuchus complex.
4-19-2007