Pictures of Messier 3

Messier 3 is a globular cluster located 34,000 lightyears away in the Canes Venatici constellation. It is thought to contain over 500,000 stars and more variable stars than any other known cluster.

It is an example of a globular cluster, which are tightly-packed concentrations of ancient stars held together by gravity. They are thought to be some of the oldest objects in the Universe.

Globular clusters are great objects to view through a telescope, as they appear like bright, starry objects against the darkness of space.

Messier 3, or M3, is part of the famous Messier Catalogue compiled by Charles Messier, and is also known as NGC 5272.

It was actually the first object in the Messier Catalogue to be observed by Messier himself, but he mistook it for a 'nebula'.

In 1784, William Herschel managed to observe M3 and resolve its individual stars, thereby revealing it to be a star cluster.

Below is a selection of images of Messier 3 captured by astrophotographers and BBC Sky at Night Magazine readers.

For astro imaging advice, read our guide to astrophotography or discover our pick of the best astrophotography cameras.