NGC 3532 - WISHING WELL OPEN CLUSTER

CARINA

Location (ra: 11:06,4/ dec -58.40)

DATA

TYPE: Open Cluster

VISUAL MAGNITUDE: 3

SIZE: 55 arc minutes

DISTANCE 5500 light years

OBJECT DESCRIPTION

This is one of the Southern Skies wonder Jewel. It is also known as the "Wishing Well Open Cluster" because it resembles silver coins shimmering. This target is a joy to see through an eyepiece. When I invite friends home for dinner, NGC 3532 is booked as a must to see target. Most non stargazers are hooked as much as with Saturn rings. In light polluted skies the object is clearly visible with binoculars 12 degrees west of the Southern Cross.

Again, the guiding was quite poor since the scope was placed without a proper alignment. In addition the ED glass was not properly placed into its house, therefore the image had to be cropped to the best side of the FOV. Also this nice target deserves a second shot and a full resolution image.

IMAGE INFORMATION

SCOPE: Orion ED 80 @f7.5

MOUNT: MEADE LXD 75

SKY CONDITIONS: very good

CAMERA: Canon DSRL 20Da

FILTERS: IDAS LPS

EXPOSSURES: 20 x 15 seconds  

PROCESSED: Sigma Combine in ImagesPlus, Photoshop CS