Appearance and Observability:

With an apparent magnitude of 5.8, M13 may be visible to the naked eye with averted vision on dark nights. In traditional binoculars, it appears as a bright, round patch of light. Its diameter is about 23 arcminutes, and it is readily viewable in small telescopes. Telescopes with at least four inches of aperture can resolve stars in M13’s outer extent as small pinpoints of light.

Physical Characteristics:

M13 is composed of several hundred thousand stars, with estimates varying from around 300,000 to over half a million. The brightest star in the cluster is a red giant known as V11 (or V1554 Herculis). It lies at a distance of approximately 22,200 light-years from Earth.

M13 is a stunning example of a globular cluster, and its tightly packed stars create a mesmerizing sight in the night sky. 🌟✨

!Messier 131

Mythology:

Hercules, also known as Heracles in Greek mythology, is a legendary figure celebrated for his strength and numerous far-ranging adventures. Here are some key aspects of his mythological background:

1. Birth and Early Life:
   Hercules was the son of Jupiter (Zeus) and the mortal woman Alcmena. His personal challenges began at birth. Juno (Hera) sent serpents to kill him, but the infant Hercules strangled them both. In one version of the myth, Alcmena abandoned him in the woods, where he was found by the goddess Minerva (Athena) and suckled by Juno. This act inadvertently imbued him with further strength and power.

2. Roman Adaptation:
   The Romans adapted Hercules from the Greek hero Heracles, incorporating his iconography and myths into their literature and art. In later Western art and culture, the name Hercules is more commonly used than Heracles.

3. Contradictory Characteristics:

   • Hercules is multifaceted, with contradictory traits. Artists and writers could choose how to represent him. He is famous for his strength, bravery, and numerous feats.

4. Legacy and Influence:
   The term “Herculean” still refers to immense strength and power. His labors, such as defeating the Nemean Lion and cleaning the Augean stables, are well-known. Hercules became a symbol of masculine power and bravery, leaving an indelible mark on mythology and culture.

!Hercules battles Achelous1

PixInsight Processing Details

1. WBPP used for calibrating, cosmetic correction, and stacking if Lights, Bias, and Flats and Drizzling.

2. GraXpert to remove gradients from each image.

3. BlurXterminator correct only R,G,B

4. RGB Channel Combination with... RGB images

5. Used SpectrophotometricCC in RGB mode to color correct everything

6. BlurXterminator on RGB image

7. GraXpert on RGB Image

8. GeneralizedHyperbolicStretch on RGB image into the Linear State

Processing on the Luminance Channel

9. Removed Stars using StarXTerminator

10. NoiseXterminator @ 90

11. HDRMultiscaleTransform at level 10 to tone down the Core of the cluster and enhance details

12. Very slight S-Curves Adjustment

13. LocalHistogramEqualization @ 75

14. LocalHistogramEqualization @ 125

15. LocalHistogramEqualization @ 185

16. MultiscaleLinearTransform with large values to Sharpen

17. LocalHistogramEqualization @ 125

18. Used ColorSaturation to boost overall colors of entire image

19. ICCProfileTransformation (Ready image for the Web)