M 5 is the brightest globular cluster in the northern sky, being 0.1 magnitudes brighter than M 13. It is readily visible to the naked eye in dark skies, and is a fine object for a small telescope. It is situated in a fairly barren region of Serpens Caput, about 12 degrees north of beta librae, and about 8 degrees south-west of alpha serpens. The outer regions are resolved in an 8" telescope.

45 minutes exposure, Kodak Royal Gold 1000 film.
5" f/5 refractor at prime focus.

Combination of 5, 1-minute exposures, SBIG ST-9E CCD.
8" f/6.3 schmidt-cassegrain at prime focus.

Combination of 15, 1 minute images using red.green and blue filters.
SBIG STL-1001E CCD camera.
20" f/6.8 cassegrain at prime focus.

Same image as above, combined of 15, 1 minute images unfiltered as the luminance layer.
SBIG STL-1001E CCD camera.
20" f/6.8 cassegrain at prime focus.