Messier 2 is an elliptical globular cluster about 37,000 light years away in the constellation of Aquarius. It is one of the largest globular clusters known in the Milky Way, though the number of stars it contains, around 150,000, is relatively low. Consequently its average density is low for a globular cluster at around 0.04 solar masses per cubic light year.

It was first discovered on September 11th 1746 by Jean-Dominique Maraldi, but he didn't catalogue it. Fourteen years later to the day, September 11th 1760, Charles Messier discovered it and added it to his catalogue, no doubt annoyed to have not found a comet, yet again!

Unfortunately this image is far from perfect, the star shapes are not as neat, tight and round as they should be. This could be due to a slight inaccuracy in the set up of the mount, which I discovered after completing the data collection. It is also true that this target is quite low from my observatory latitude and appears close to the neighbouring roof tops. This could have adversely affected the guiding and subsequent quality of the data.