The Great Hercules Cluster is one of the largest globular clusters in the northern hemisphere. It shines at magnitude 5.8 and is approximately 25,000 light years distant and consists of probably 300,000 stars. There are numerous red giants, including Cepheid variables. The small blue stars are likely "blue stragglers", new stars formed by collisions among the densely packed neighbors.

Imaging Camera: QSI640wsg
Imaging Scope: Celestron 9.25"Edge HD at f/7
Guide Camera: SX Lodestarx2
Mount: Avalon M-Uno Fast Reverse
Filters: Astrodon Gen II LRGB
Exposure: 180 min Lum, 1 minute subs binx1, 90 min each RGB, 1 minute subs binx2.
Capture: APT
Processing: CCD Stack and PS CC
Date: 5/26/20 and 5/25/20
Sky conditions: Below average seeing, bortle white skies, SQM 17.8 mag/arc-sec2
Location: My front driveway. Morristown, NJ