NGC 5617 & Pismis 19

OPEN CLUSTER IN CENTAURUS 

 (Image Centred at ra 14h:29.8m / dec -63:43)

March 2014 - Home Backyard in Martinez, Buenos Aires, Argentina

DATA

TYPE: Open Cluster

Apparent magnitude: 6.3

Apparent diameter: 10 arc minutes

Distance: 5000 light years (WEBDA)

IMAGE INFORMATION

SCOPE: 8" Orion Optics UK with Televue Paracorr

CAMERA: QSI 583 WS

FILTERS: Baader LRGB, 2" IDAS LPS for all channels

SKY CONDITIONS: urban skies and 50 % Moon

EXPOSURES: LRGB (60,30,30,30)

OBJECT DESCRIPTION AND IMAGE SESSION

A colorful Open Cluster within the imaginary line formed by Alpha and Beta Centauri also know as "The Pointer". The object is located roughly at one degree from Alpha Centaury. 70 to 80 colorful stars are distributed north to south given NGC 5617 an irregular shape. The cluster is located in perspective with our Milky Way plane, so the image present a populated star background. Unfortunately the sky transparency at home is far from ideal, thus not all stars are revealed. Also visible in the image fainter Pismis 19 with a monochromatic reddish appearance and 2.2 arc minutes diameter.