Messier 3 a Globular clsuter in Canes Venatici

Messier 3 is one of the Northern sky's show piece globular star clusters. Lying at a distance of 48,500 lt-yrs. And it is an easy object for anybody with a small telescope, or binoculars.

M3 was  discovered by Messier in 1764, and looked on May 3rd of that year
"Nebula without star: centre brilliant, gradually fading away; round. In a dark sky, visible in a telescope of 1-foot"

This image was taken during a clear window on 2011 April 2nd, from my observing site here in East Cheshire. The seeing wasn't brilliant, and this was evident when using my Hartman mask to focus on a nearby star.

The exposure is made up of 16x60 second exposures, and it is the best out of 30x60 second exposures.

Imaged using the Orion 200-800 F4 "AG" and guided using PHD a QHY5 and William Optics ZS66SD.

The image could be better. And I will return to M3 again, on a night of better seeing.