C75
Open Cluster in Scorpius
About
NGC 6124, an open cluster in Scorpius 1,860 light-years distant, found by Lacaille in 1751 from South Africa. Around 125 stars are visible, and the group is roughly 100 million years old, with red giants among younger blue-white stars.
Imaging tips
- Sources give about 29′, the width of the full Moon, so 840–1,390 mm on APS-C spans a third to half of the frame; go shorter to add surrounding stars.
- The red giants set against blue-white stars give colour contrast, so use a colour camera or RGB broadband data.
- At magnitude 5.8 it is a bright, wide-field target, easy even in binoculars.
- Best in May and June. It never rises from 50°N.
Facts
- Size
- 29′
- Magnitude
- 5.8
- Coordinates
- RA 16h 25.3m, Dec −40° 40′
- Framing, APS-C
- 840–1390 mm
- Framing, full frame
- 1280–2130 mm
- Best months
- May, Jun
- Peak altitude
- never rises from 50°N, 14° from 35°N