NGC 6144 (M4's Little Sister) (5-4-10)

This globular cluster is visible in between and just to the north of Antares and the apparently much larger M4. It is often shown in photographs but usually as part of a wide field view. NGC 6144 is 27,000 light years from here and M4 on.y 7,000 light years away; hence, the apparent difference. Anyway, it's about time NGC 6144 got its due. Very nice cluster, partially hidden behind a cloud of dust that is all over this part of central Scorpius (as in this nice wide field photo). The bar of light across the bottom of the frame is a diffraction spike caused by the bright nearby star Antares and the four bars that hold the telescope's secondary mirror.

This is 44x150" through the Orion 6" Imaging Newt with the SXVF-H9C. Processing was done in Nebulosity 2, Maxim, Photoshop, and Photoshop Elements, with a couple of Carboni actions.