Messier 15 (Pegasus)
The globular cluster Messier 15 (NGC 7078, "The Great Pegasus Cluster") in the constellation Pegasus
Fig. 1 - Home to over 100,000 stars: The globular cluster Messier 15 in the constellation Pegasus, photographed with an 8-inch f/5 Newtonian reflector on a ZWO AM5 mount.
| Object name: | Constellation: | Coordinates: | Apparent size: | Visual brightness: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Messier 15 (= (NGC 7078) | Pegasus | 21h30m / +12°10' | 18' | 6.2 mag |
Messier 15 (NGC 7078), also known as the Great Pegasus Cluster, is a globular cluster in the constellation Pegasus. It is one of the most densely packed globular clusters in the Milky Way, with a core that has undergone a contraction known as core collapse, resulting in an extraordinarily dense central region that may harbor a black hole.
Home to over 100,000 stars, the cluster contains a large number of variable stars and pulsars. It also contains Pease 1, the first planetary nebula discovered within a globular cluster. Messier 15 is about 35,700 light-years from Earth, 175 light-years in diameter and was discovered by Italian-born astronomer Jean-Dominique Maraldi in 1746 (source: Wikipedia).
Technical Details:
Exposure time: 4h 6min (82x3min)
Gain: 100
Temperature: -10°C
Date: September 20/21, 2025
Processing: Astro Pixel Processor (APP) and Photoshop
Calibration: Darks, flats, and bias
Equipment:
Cooled ASI 2600MC Pro camera, TeleVue Paracorr Type II coma corrector, 8" f/5 "ONTC" Newtonian telescope, ZWO AM5 Strain Wave Mount, ZWO OAG-L off-axis system, ASI 174MM Mini guide camera, ASIAIR Plus
Messier 15 was also captured with a 16-inch dobsonian on an equatorial platform. The image can be seen here.
Fig. 2 - Search chart for Messier 15. Copyright 2025 'The Mag-7 Star Atlas Project', www.siaris.net.