NGC 5139

Omega Centauri. Globular Cluster, Centaurus

April 2008. Cave Creek Canyon Observatory, Arizona Sky Village

Omega Centauri (ω Cen, NGC 5139, or Caldwell 80) is a globular cluster in the constellation of Centaurus that was first identified as a non-stellar object by Edmond Halley in 1677. Located at a distance of 17,090 light-years (5,240 pc), it is the largest known globular cluster in the Milky Way at a diameter of roughly 150 light-years. It is estimated to contain approximately 10 million stars, and a total mass equivalent to 4 million solar masses, making it the most massive known globular cluster in the Milky Way. Omega Centauri is very different from most other galactic globular clusters to the extent that it is thought to have an origin as the core remnant of a disrupted dwarf galaxy.

Telescope: Astro Physics 155EDF f7
Mount: Astro Physics 1200GTO
Camera: SBIG STL-11000M
Guider: SBIG STL-Remote OAG

L: 26×5 mins = 130 mins, R: 9×5 mins = 45 mins, G: 9×5 mins = 45 mins, B: 9×5 mins = 45 mins

Total Imaging Time: 4h 25m

Data Imaged remotely over 7 nights during March & April 2008.
Data acquisition & Processing by David Churchill.