NGC 6752: Globular Cluster in Pavo

In apparent size, NGC 6752 is arguably the third largest globular cluster after Omega Centauri and 47 Tucanae (all southern objects!). One of the closest globulars at just 13,000ly away, it is a lovely object viewed through a 15cm or larger telescope having a moderately condensed core (about 3arcmin in diameter) and unusually bright outliers to around 15arcmin: photographically it is about 42arcmin in diameter. It has a mass of around 1.4x10⁵ solar masses and is classified as VI (intermediate mild concentration towards the centre) on the Shapley-Sawyer globular cluster concentration scale (1927).

 This photograph reveals the delicate star colours, predominantly yellows with some reds and blues (closer view). In addition to NGC 6752 and the colourful stars of our own galaxy the field contains many distant galaxies with discernable structures: among the 20 or more galaxies visible are the trio of spiral galaxies upper left, an interacting system to the right of these, an edge-on spiral lower left and a curious edge-on ribbon galaxy middle right.