MESSIER 6

Open Cluster in Scorpius

(ra: 17,40.1 / dec -32:13)

July 2011, Destefani residence, Mercedes - Buenos Aires, Argentina

DATA

TYPE: Open Cluster   

Apparent Magnitude: 4.2

Apparent Diameter: 34  arcs minutes

DISTANCE: 1600 light years

IMAGE INFORMATION

SCOPE: Orion Optics UK 150/750 f5 Ultra Grade Mirror with Baader MPCC

CAMERA: QSI 583 WS

MOUNT: NEQ6

GUIDING: Synta 70/400 refractor with Starlight Xpress LodeStar AstroArt 3.0 - Control Interface 3.72 plug in

FILTERS: Baader 2" LRGB downsized to 31 mm, Astronomik Ha 6 nm 

SKY CONDITIONS: transparency and seeing good

EXPOSURES: LHaRGB (40,20,20,20,20) RGB bin 2x2

PROCESSING: Calibration in Images Plus Sigma Media (no darks, flats, bias applied), CCD Sharp, NASA Photoshop Fits Liberator, Photoshop CS2

OBJECT DESCRIPTION AND IMAGE SESSION

M6 is known as the Butterfly Cluster because its star lay out suggest a butterfly with open wings. An excellent object for medium focal length telescopes. 80 star members were identified. The main portion of the cluster covers a distance of 12 light years. M6 is composed predominantly of young blue stars, although the brightest star is nearly orange. It is called BM scorpii with an apparent magnitude varying from 5.5 to 7. From all Messier Objects M6 is the closest to the galactic centre. The cluster is estimated to have 100 million years old.