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NGC 3114

OPEN CLUSTER IN CARINA (THE KEEL) 

(Image centered at ra: 10:03:09 / dec -60º 09' 56")

 

 

CLICK IN THE IMAGE FOR A HIGHER RESOLUTION VIEW

 

April 2026, Home Backyard in Martinez, Buenos Aires, Argentina

 


 

DATA

TYPE: Open Cluster

Visual Brightness: 4.2

APPARENT DIAMETER: 35 arc minutes

DISTANCE: 2800 to 3200  light years

 

IMAGE INFORMATION

SCOPE: 6" ORION OPTICS UK (Ultra Grade Optics) w/Sky Watcher Coma Corrector (0.9x) working at at f4.5

CAMERA: QHY 183 MONO

MOUNT: SKYWATCHER NEQ6, OAG with QHY 5II Mono

FILTERS:  OPTOLONG LRGB Set Antlia 3nm HA

SKY CONDITIONS: Urban Skies. Bortle 9

EXPOSURES: LRGB (45,420,45,45,45) - all channels bin 1x1

 

OBJECT DESCRIPTION AND IMAGE SESSION

Scottish Astronomer James Dunlop discovered this fantastic cluster located in the northern side of the constellation of Carina, 5 degrees west from the Keyhole Nebula. It is a bright cluster and a very good target for binoculars and small telescopes or even to keen eye observer. Due the fact it is located in the galactic plane, it has a very dense stellar background. Unfortunately because of the mentioned fact, its studies are difficult to perform.

The cluster which is about 100 million years old, contains three or may be four long curved chains of bright stars giving a peculiar appearance. Not many pictures found in the www, but there is no doubt is a very handsome object of the southern hemisphere.

Recent images displayed in the web which were taken from dark skies, showed an Ha emission nebulae background, and also OIII structure. I tried to capture some of those lanes, though very faint, some are visible in the above image.