| Name | Crucifix Cluster |
| Designation(s) | M107, NGC 6171 |
| Object Type(s) | Globular Cluster |
| Relevant Catalog(s) | All (Chron), Messier, NGC |
| Obs. Lat/Long | 42° 17', 073° 57' |
| Constellation | Ophiuchus |
| Date and Time Observed | 2024-05-17 00:45:00 |
| Instrument | Seestar S50 f5.0-250mm FL |
| Camera | Built-in SONY IMX462 Sensor |
| Image Details | Up is 18.0 degrees E of N. Total integration time was 11m. Exposures 10s. Darks subtracted, no flats. No guiding. |
| Description | Méchain's letter to Bernoulli, May 6, 1783 triggered the addition of M107 to the list: "In April 1782 I discovered a small nebula in the left flank of Ophiuchus between the stars Zeta and Phi, the position of which I have not yet observed any closer." <--> Ranked 16 and 25 respectively among all Messier GCs for brightness an size. This was an opportunistic capture on an evening when the weather forecast suggested no observing would be possible. A loose globular cluster that vaguely resembles a Celtic cross, particular if rotated 180° from the current rotation. This seems like "cheating" since part of the cross seems to depend on two, bright field stars that extend the line of the cross, and appear most likely unrelated to the cluster. The third image in the gallery is a recent capture using the Askar V and 2600mc camera (rotated roughly 90° counter-clockwise from the Seestar image). In this capture, it's obvious the the cluster is situated in a field mottled with dark nebulae, |
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