NGC 5662

OPEN STAR CLUSTER IN CENTAURUS

(Image centered at: ra 14:35.36 / dec - 56:37)

 February  2021, Brisas Serranas Tandil, Buenos Aires, Argentina

DATA

TYPE: Open Star Cluster

APPARENT MAGNITUDE: 5,5

APPARENT DIAMETER: around 30 arc minutes

DISTANCE: 2170 light years

IMAGE INFORMATION

SCOPE: 6" ORION OPTICS UK (Ultra Grade Optics) w/Televue Paracorr working at at f5,75

CAMERA: QSI 583 WS

MOUNT: SKY WATCHER NEQ6

FILTERS: Baader LRGB Set

SKY CONDITIONS: Semi - urban Skies

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

OBJECT DESCRIPTION AND IMAGE SESSION

Located in the southern constellation of Centaurus, NGC 5662 was discovered by French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille on May 17 1752 from South Africa. It is a rich cluster with 280 stars members with a tidal radius calculated from 21 to 40 light years, with an estimated age of 93 millions years

Due to its close relative distance to the southern pole, NGC 5662 is circumpolar: never rises or sets.

One of its members is V Centauri, a Cepheid variable which is the bright star visible in the image at the bottom left. Despite the large distance of the cluster it has high likelihood of being a member of the open cluster.