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NGC 5897   The "Ghost Globular"

NGC 5897 is a loose globular cluster located in the constellation Libra. It lacks the dense concentration of stars at its center like classic globular clusters, which almost makes it look more like an open cluster. The overall dimness (visual magnitude 8.6) and low surface brightness (magnitude 13.84) of NGC 5897 has led to some people calling it the "Ghost Globular." This name seems fitting when the cluster is viewed in a low-power telescope, where it appears as a seemingly transparent, softly glowing "ghost" version of regular globular clusters. NGC 5897 has a physical diameter of 135 LY and lies at a distance of around 40,800 LY. It is in globular cluster concentration class 11. Concentration class ranges from 1 (the highest stellar concentration) to 12 (the lowest stellar concentration). NGC 5897's value of 11 puts it almost at the bottom of this range. So, the lack of stellar density (in particular, the absence of a closely-packed core of stars) is the main reason why NGC 5897 is a dim target. There are a few other examples of loosely packed globular clusters like NGC 5897, most notably NGC 5053 in the constellation Coma Berenices.

Date(s) Acquired: 25 May 2015
Telescope: Orion 120mm EON Apochromatic Refractor
Camera: QSI Model 583

 

   Exposure Time (min) 
   Number of Exposures
   RGB
   2
   
   -
   
   -
   OIII
   -
   RGB
   9
   
   0
   
   0
   OIII
   0

 

Processing:
Master red, green, and blue images created using Basic Processing Procedure I.
Color composite image created using Basic Processing Procedure III.
Color composite image contrast-stretched using Adobe Photoshop.




 

 

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