NGC 6604

 OPEN CLUSTER WITH NEBULOSITY IN SERPENS (THE SNAKE)  

(Image centered at: ra 18 h:18 m / dec - 12º 14')

September 2022, Home Backyard in Martínez, Buenos Aires, Argentina

DATA

TYPE: Open Cluster & Nebulosity

APPARENT DIAMETER: 6,0 arc minutes

APPARENT MAGNITUDE (V): 6.5

DISTANCE:  4580 light years 

IMAGE INFORMATION

INSTRUMENT: 8" ORION OPTICS UK (Ultra Grade Optics) w/Televue Paracorr working at at f5,75

CAMERA: QSI 583 WS

MOUNT: SKY WATCHER NEQ6, OAG with Starlight Xpress Lodestar

FILTERS: Baader LRGB Set; Astronomik Ha 6nm

SKY CONDITIONS: urban skies - Bortle 8

EXPOSURES: LHARGB (40,80,40,40,40)

OBJECT DESCRIPTION AND IMAGE SESSION

NGC 6604. is a small compact open cluster located 1,5ª from The Eagle Nebula. It is very compact and still undergoing star formation activity. It lies in the core of an HII region Ser OB2 association and it is understood both are most linked. The cluster age is estimated in 6,5 million years and contains several hot and massive stars of the OB type. This stars has a short life, and thus do not move very far from where they formed within their time. During their lifetime, they will emit much ultraviolet radiation which rapidly ionize the surrounding interstellar gas forming an HII region.

The cluster was discovered by William Herschel on July 15 1784.