M3 is one of the better globular clusters seen from the northern hemisphere, being around 34,000 lightyears distant. Our galaxy has around 150 of these clusters orbiting, and they were formed early in the life of the universe.
M3 contains perhaps 500,000 stars, with stellar density at the centre exceeding 100 stars per cubic lightyear. When you consider that the nearest star to our sun is just over 4 lightyears away, any planet orbiting a star at the centre of M3 (if it could survive for any length of time, which is doubtful), would not experience darkness. The sky would be a perpetual blaze of light.
Remotely imaged from Spain in December 2020, with an SBIG STL-6303 camera through a 12.5-inch Planewave CDK reflector.
Date: 26/12/2020
Photographer: Graham Wilcock
