Messier 5 (M 5)

Introduction | Map | My Best Own Photos | My Own Observations | References || Appendix: My Own Photos

On this page I collect my observations of the globular star cluster M 5 (NGC 5904) in the constellation Serpens Caput/Head of the Serpent.

Introduction

The globular star cluster M 5 in the constellation Serpens Caput/Head of the Serpent is the brightest of its kind in the northern hemisphere, next to - or following - the globular star cluster M 13 in Hercules. In binoculars it appears, according to Stoyan, as a round nebula.

M 5 (NGC 5904)
Size: 6'/12' (Stoyan/Karkoschka)
Distance: 25,000 light years (Stoyan)
Rating: **** (Stoyan)

Map

M 5 is located in constellation Serpens Caput/Head of the Serpent - some other globular star clusters are shown as well (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

My Best Own Photos

eVscope

M 5 - May 15, 2020		M 5 - May 15, 2020, processed		M 5 - May 15, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 5 - May 31, 2020		M 5 - May 31, 2020, processed		M 5 - May 31, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 5 - Jun 11, 2020		M 5 - Jun 11, 2020, processed		M 5 - Jun 11, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 5 - Jun 10, 2021		M 5 - Jun 10, 2021, processed (Polarr)		M 5 - Jun 10, 2021, processed and sharpened
M 5 - Jul 29, 2021		M 5 - Jul 29, 2021, processed		M 5 - Jul 29, 2021, processed and sharpened

Vespera

M 5, Jul 31, 2022 - original (29 frames = 290s)

Vespera Pro

M 5, Jun 7, 2024 - 2000p (124 frames = 20min)
M 5, Jun 7, 2024 - 1800p (124 frames = 20min), 1:1 section		M 5, Jun 7, 2024 - 1800p (124 frames = 20min), 1:1 section, processed

My Own Observations

Observations May 2017

• May 14, 15, 2017 (Mühlhausen: Explorer 150PDS on GoTo mount): M 5 only visible in the east later in the night; several globular star clusters seen well (7 mm; 24/16 mm on May 15), all somewhat "resolved", M 13 was the largest
• May 16, 2017 (ditto): M 5 and further globular star clusters seen well as probably never before (24/4 mm), particular at that large size (4 mm)
• May 20, 2017 (ditto): M 5 and further globular star clusters once more beautifully seen with 4 mm eyepiece

Observations June 2019

• Jun 2, 2019 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: PS 72/432 on AZ Pronto mount; TS binoculars): M 5 observed, a glow that is brighter at the center; at higher magnifications still a glow... In binoculars not much fainter...
• Jun 4, 2019 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Skymax-127 on GoTo mount): M 5 observed, a glow that is brighter at the center; at higher magnifications still only a glow...

Observations March to August 2020

• March 18, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 5 photographed
• May 15, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 5 photographed (no oberlay, new rectangular format)
• May 21, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 5 photographed (n.o., r.f.)
• May 29, 2020 (Erkerode: eVscope): M 5 photographed (n.o., r.f.)
• May 31, 2020 (Erkerode: eVscope): M 5 photographed (n.o., r.f.)
• Jun 11, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 5 photographed (n.o., r.f.)
• Jun 12, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 5 photographed (n.o., r.f.)
• Jul 3, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 5 photographed (n.o., r.f.), sky too bright
• Jul 23, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: TS binoculars): M 5 observed
• August 9, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 5 photographed (n.o., r.f.), sky too bright

Observations June to July 2021

• June 10, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 5 photographed (n.o., r.f.), new image size and processing
• July 17, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 5 photographed (n.o., r.f.), new image size and processing, poor collimation
• July 29, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 5 photographed (n.o., r.f.), new image size and processing, poor collimation

Observations July 2022

• July 21, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: PS 72/432 on AZ-GTi): M 5 and further globular star clusters observed (did not find the comet C/2017 K2); brighter than M 10/12
• July 24, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: C5R on AZ-GTi): M 5 and further globular star clusters observed (did not find the comet); brighter than M 10/12
• July 31, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera): M 5 photographed

Observations June 2024

• June 4, 2024 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera): M 5 photographed, aborted after 2.5 min because of clouds
• June 7, 2024 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera): M 5 photographed (20 min)

References

• Messier Catalogue - Messier 5: messier.seds.org/m/m005.html
• Messier 5 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_5

On this Site

• Omegon Photography Scope 72/432 ED OTA Information (2.8" Refractor)
• Sky-Watcher Explorer 150PDS Information (6" Newton)
• Sky-Watcher Skymax-127 OTA Information (5" Maksutov-Cassegrain)
• Celestron C5 OTA Information (5" Schmidt-Cassegrain)
• Unistellar eVscope Information
• Vaonis Vespera - Information
• Vaonis Vespera Pro - Information
• Sky-Watcher AZ Pronto Mount Information
• Sky-Watcher Star Discovery AZ GoTo Mount Information
• Sky-Watcher AZ-GTi AZ GoTo Mount Information
• My Binoculars

Appendix: My Own Photos

eVscope

M 5 - Mar 18, 2020		M 5 - Mar 18, 2020, processed		M 5 - Mar 18, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 5 - Mar 18, 2020		M 5 - Mar 18, 2020, processed		M 5 - Mar 18, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 5 - May 15, 2020		M 5 - May 15, 2020, processed		M 5 - May 15, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 5 - May 21, 2020		M 5 - May 21, 2020, processed		M 5 - May 21, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 5 - May 21, 2020		M 5 - May 21, 2020, processed		M 5 - May 21, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 5 - May 29, 2020		M 5 - May 29, 2020, processed		M 5 - May 29, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 5 - May 31, 2020		M 5 - May 31, 2020, processed		M 5 - May 31, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 5 - Jun 11, 2020		M 5 - Jun 11, 2020, processed		M 5 - Jun 11, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 5 - Jun 12, 2020, disturbed		M 5 - Jun 12, 2020, processed		M 5 - Jun 12, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 5 - Jul 3, 2020, sky too bright		M 5 - Jul 3, 2020, processed		M 5 - Jul 3, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 5 - Aug 9, 2020, sky too bright		M 5 - Aug 9, 2020, processed		M 5 - Aug 9, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 5 - Jun 10, 2021		M 5 - Jun 10, 2021, processed (Polarr)		M 5 - Jun 10, 2021, processed and sharpened
M 5 - Jul 17, 2021		M 5 - Jul 17, 2021, processed		M 5 - Jul 17, 2021, processed and sharpened
M 5 - Jul 17, 2021		M 5 - Jul 17, 2021, processed		M 5 - Jul 17, 2021, processed and sharpened
M 5 - Jul 29, 2021		M 5 - Jul 29, 2021, processed		M 5 - Jul 29, 2021, processed and sharpened

Vespera

M 5, Jul 31, 2022 - original (29 frames = 290s)

Vespera Pro

M 5, Jun 4, 2024 - 2000p (15 frames = 150s)		M 5, Jun 4, 2024 - 1800p (15 frames = 150s), 1:1 section
M 5, Jun 7, 2024 - 2000p (124 frames = 20min)
M 5, Jun 7, 2024 - 1800p (124 frames = 20min), 1:1 section		M 5, Jun 7, 2024 - 1800p (124 frames = 20min), 1:1 section, processed