Location settings
VA, US
39°/-77.5°
GMT -4
Waxing20:15 - 05:54
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M3: Rise, Set, Nighttime Path

M3

M3 Daily Motion

M3 will reach transit at 15:11. By the time twilight starts at 20:15 it will be at an elevation of 27° degrees and will set at 22:53, before twilight ends.
M3 will become visible in November, 9. After being too close to the Sun to observe, it will reappear in the night sky. Starting from November, 9, M3 can be seen again, providing a good opportunity for observation.

M3 Rise and Set Timetable

TimeElevation
M3 transit15:1179°
Sunset19:1639°
Civil sunset19:4433°
Astrosession begin20:1527°
M3 Set22:53
Astrosession end05:54-12°
M3 Rise07:24

M3 Sky Tracker Map

Elevation (degrees)
Time
Altitude
Azimuth
Shift the map to change the time and observe M3 changing position in the night sky.

M3 - Globular Cluster

M3 is a globular cluster located in the constellation Canes Venatici. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1764. M3 is one of the most outstanding globular clusters, notable for its large number of variable stars.

Spanning about 180 light-years across, M3 contains around 500,000 stars. It is approximately 33,900 light-years away from Earth and has an apparent magnitude of 6.2, making it visible with binoculars or a small telescope. The cluster is best observed in the northern hemisphere during the spring months.

M3 Image Gallery

DSS Blue

M3 photo taken with blue filter
These images are valuable for highlighting the presence of younger, hotter stars, which emit more light in the blue wavelengths.

DSS Red

M3 photo taken with red filter
These images are excellent for detecting older, cooler stars, as well as emission nebulae, which glow primarily in the red due to hydrogen alpha emissions.

DSS Near-Infrared

M3 photo taken with Near-Infrared filter
These images can penetrate dust clouds that obscure visible light, revealing structures and objects hidden within.

DSS Composite image

M3 color image
DSS Color images are composite images created by combining the blue, red, and often near-infrared images to produce a full-color representation.

The photos are taken from the Digitized Sky Survey 2 (DSS2), which was produced at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) under NASA contract, using data from the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the European Southern Observatory (ESO), and the National Geographic Society-Palomar Observatory Sky Survey (POSS II).

Special thanks to the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO), the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, and the California Institute of Technology for their significant contributions.

Finder Chart for M3

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Object nameM3
Field of view
Limiting magnitude
M3 coordinates13.70312, 28.37544
Center coordinates13.70312, 28.37544

M3 Passage Through Night

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Current position of M3

Time19:58
Latitude39.0469
Longitude-77.4903
M3 elevation31°
M3 Azimuth77°
Here you can see the current position of the M3 on the map, as well as its positions for rise and set. This tool allows you to track the M3's movement throughout the night, providing you with accurate and up-to-date information.

Annual motion of M3

Time
DateMon, 16 September 2024
Twighlight start20:43
Twighlight end05:16
Twighlight duration9h 33m
Rise07:24
Set22:49
Elevation at transit79°
Transit time15:07
Equatorial coordinateRA: 13h 42m 11s, Dec: 28° 22' 31"
Magnitude6
ConstellationCanesVenatici
The graph illustrates the annual visibility pattern of a M3, providing a comprehensive overview of its daily appearances and transit times throughout the year.
The graph is structured with the vertical axis showing the hours of the day, ranging from 12 AM to 12 AM the next day, while the horizontal axis spans each day of the year.
The reddish shaded area indicates the periods when the M3 is above the horizon, visible to observers. The white line marks the times when the celestial object reaches its highest point in the sky each day, known as the transit.