NGC 4755 – JEWEL BOX OPEN CLUSTER

Crux

 (ra: 12:53,6 / dec -60:20)

DATA

TYPE: Open Cluster

VISUAL MAGNITUDE: 4.2

SIZE: 10 arc minutes

DISTANCE: 7600 light years

OBJECT DESCRIPTION

This open cluster is a beauty of the Southern Sky. It is one of the youngest clusters known carrying 7.1 Millions of years of existence. The three brightest stars are blue giants and shines at magnitudes 5.75, 5.974 and 6.8 respectively. The fourth is a red super giant and shines at magnitude 7.58. It can be observed with binoculars and is an easy target to find. Pointing south (pole) its a few degrees of Mimosa.

It was discovered by Abbe Lacaille during a trip to South Africa in 1751-1752.

IMAGE INFORMATION

SCOPE: Celestron SCT C8, working at roughly f7 Vixen GPDX with Sky Sensor 2000

SKY CONDITIONS: Bad - full moon and seeing very poor

CAMERA: Starlight Xpress SXVF H9

FILTERS: Astronomik Type II

EXPOSURES: LRGB (5,5,5,5) Subs 30 seconds unguided

IMAGE ACQUISITION: Astro Art 3.0 CCD Control Interface 3.72

CALIBRATION: Images Plus - Sigma Combined (no darks removed), Post Processing: Photoshop