M 13: Great Hercules Cluster

The Great Hercules Cluster (famous as M 13 or NGC 6205) is an extremely dense and rich globular cluster found in the constellation Hercules. It is the brightest globular cluster in the northen emisphere and is observable with ease through binoculars or a small telescope. M13 is 23000 l.y. away from Earth and it is made up of around 300 thousand stars.
In 1974, with the symbolic intent to communicate with other worlds, in occasion of the enlargement of the Arecibo radiotelescope a 1679 bit radio signal (Arecibo message) was transmitted thowards M 13, it will be "delivered" 23000 years from now!

Awards & Acknowledgements

• APOD GraG (Astronomy Picture Of the Day) — March 27th, 2020
• Published on issue number 244 of the "Coelum Astronomy" magazine — April 29th, 2020