The colors in the image result from a G2V star-color-calabration procedure for the entrire image-train.

Ras Algethi (The head of the kneeler), is the main star in the constellation Hercules. In a standard telescope, the binary character of this star is revealed, as both components Ras Algethi A and B appear in a distance to each other of 4.9 arc seconds.

Ras Algethi A is a red giant (spectral classs M5), as is it 15 times more massive and 400 times more bright than our sun. Yet, this is responsible to let this system shine (3m1 A and 4m2 B) in the northern hemisphere even tough it is more than 380 LY away from earth. It takes A and B some 3600 years to rotate around a common center of gravity. The two stars are seperated by a distance, large enough to let our solar system fit inbetween around 12 times, respectively. Actually Ras Algethi B (spectral class F8) is a double star by its own, which, however, can only be resolved by interferometric means.