M5
Rose Cluster in Serpens

10.1″ f/4.5, Mallincam DS432cTEC
Exposure = 5 sec, Live Stacked frames = 25, Gain = 15 of 250

The Rose Cluster is a bright relatively sparse globular cluster in the outer regions with a condensed central core, spanning about 20 arc minutes; it’s true physical size is 160 light years across, lying about 25,000 light years away. The bright 5th magnitude star to the lower-left is 5 Serpentis; note that it appears slightly distorted, which I suspect is due to it being a double star, the secondary separated by about 15 arc seconds at Position Angle 45. The outer stars of M5 seem to form curved arcs from right to left that one can imagine represent the profile of the petals on a rose, in this case lying on its side. To me it also looks like the legs of a crab. What pattern do you see?

North at 1 o’clock, East at 10 o’clock