Perhaps like Edmund Halley in 1677, I “rediscovered” the largest globular cluster in our galaxy, totally randomly! It’s about 4:30 am. A frequent ritual up here in Mayhill NM, at the astronomer’s living quarters, base of Mintaka Hill, I go outdoors before sunrise to do some binocular viewing from the deck with my 16 x 70’s. Take advantage of the dark skies! So I’m sweeping around the sky and moving along the horizon to the south…Boom! What the heck is that? Looks like M13 on steroids! M13 known as the largest globular cluster seen from the Northern Hemisphere contains some 300,000 stars. Omega Centauri has 10,000,000!! I see that I am looking in Centaurus and I’m about 10 degrees above the horizon. Yep. That’s definitely the legendary Omega Centauri! Spotted for the first time in my life! A bunch of people in our neighborhood here have told me you can see it but it’s not easy. For most folks in the northern hemisphere it’s not visible due to sky glow in most areas and the fact it is skirting the horizon. Really a southern hemisphere target. I assumed you had to be higher up on the mountain here to catch it. I look with the naked eye to the South and definitely it’s blaring right at you at only magnitude 3 and change! A much easier target than I could have imagined. I am sure from the observatory it can be imaged especially since I am facing due South and have the drop down wall. Fortuitous planning on my part! But, before I image it I’m going to look through the refractor tomorrow. Can’t wait!