Globular Cluster M92

• Telescope: Stellarvue SVA130T-IS
• Mount: Losmandy G-11 with Gemini 2 controller
• Autoguiding: Yes (sub-arcsecond rms accuracy)
• Optical Configuration: 2x Barlow lens (f/14)
• Camera: Canon 60Da
• Light Frames: 5, 5-min. exposures stacked
• Calibration: None (no darks, no flats, no biases)
• Exposure Time: 25 min. (5 x 5 min.)
• ISO: 800
• Processing: Photoshop CC
• Imaging Location: Sierra Nevada Mountains (Altitude: 8,600 ft.)

With an estimated age of 14 billion years, the globular cluster M92 is one of the most ancient structures in the universe. Astronomers believe that most globular clusters formed very soon after the universe began with the Big Bang. In fact, these star formations pose something of a dilemma for cosmologists, because the universe itself is thought to be about 13.7 billion years old, and some globular clusters like M92 appear to be even older.

Located in the constellation Hercules, M92 is 27,000 light-years from Earth and contains about 300,000 stars. It could be the oldest globular cluster in our Milky Way galaxy.