NGC 6281

OPEN CLUSTER ASSOCIATED WITH NEBULOSITY

SCORPIUS

 (Image Centred at ra 17 h:05m / dec -37:54)

May 2015 - Camping La Porteña, San Antonio de Areco, Buenos Aires, Argentina

DATA

Type: Open Cluster

Apparent Magnitude: 5.4

Apparent diameter: 8 arc minutes 

Distance: 1600 light years

IMAGE INFORMATION

OPTICS: 8" f5 Orion Optics Reflector with Televue Paracorr working at 5.75

CAMERA: QSI 583 WS  

FILTERS: Baader LRGB

MOUNT: Sky Watcher NEQ6

SKY CONDITIONS: rural skies, seeing regular

EXPOSURES: LHaRGB (30,30,30,30,30) - Ha + RGB shots at bin 2x2

OBJECT DESCRIPTION AND IMAGE SESSION

Another hidden treasure in the constellation of Scorpius. NGC 6281 is neglected cluster mainly because it is close to other popular objects as NGC 6231 or the Bug Nebula. NGC 6281 can be easily found 2,5 degrees towards the east of Mu Scorpii.

It is a beautiful open cluster for any telescope and even binoculars. It contains around two dozen of colourfull stars (magnitude range from 9 to 11) appearing superimposed in a foggy area of our Milky way. John Herschel described it as "pretty bright" and "pretty rich". Even for astrophotographers is a great target since the star field background is merged with faint nebulosity.