M79
Globular cluster in Lepus

10.1″ f/4.5, Mallincam DS432cTEC
Exposure = 8 sec, Live Stacked frames = 55, Gain = 6 of 250

This globular cluster is in an unusual part of the sky directly opposite the galactic center, 42,000 light years away and 118 light years across, both farther and smaller than M13. M79 has a considerably dense core; Burnham’s lists it as “cRi, eC” which is short form notation for “considerably rich, extremely condensed” and it appears to be about 4 arcminutes across in this view, one of the smaller Messier globulars. It’s size and southerly location make it difficult to image from my home location in Eastern Ontario, at the time this was taken it was due south but barely 20 degrees above the horizon.

North at 2 o’clock, East at 11 o’clock