NGC 6388 – A globular cluster in the constellation Scorpius
NGC 6388 is located in the constellation Scorpius, just under two degrees south of the tail star Sargas. At a distance of about 32,600 light-years, it lies on the opposite side of our galaxy.
In the image, it appears exactly as one would expect one of the most massive globular clusters in the Milky Way to look: a brilliantly bright, extremely dense core that gradually gives way to a uniform swarm of stars toward the edge. Its total mass is approximately 2.3 million solar masses, and its true diameter is about 110 light-years. Evidence of a medium-mass black hole at its center has not yet been conclusively confirmed.
The filaments of RCW 114, an extensive, faint emission nebula within the galactic disk, stretch across the entire field of view. To make these delicate structures visible, I exposed the image for just under 9.5 hours in Hα light. The filaments of the nebula appear to envelop the cluster from all sides. This is purely a projection effect with no physical connection between the two objects.
The image was featured as Astrobin TopPick and APOD Brazil.
| Date: | 24.07.-14.08.2025 |
| Optics: | Planewave CDK 14 with Televue 0.8x reducer |
| Aperture: | 350 mm |
| Focal Length: | 2050 mm |
| Camera: | QHY268M |
| Exposure: | R:G:B 57:60:60 x 300 s Hα 65 x 600s |
| Location: | Gemsbock Observatory, Rooisand Desert Ranch, Namibia |
| Processing: | PixInsight, Photoshop |
| Diameter: | 110 light years |
| Distance: | 32.600 light years |
