C76
Open Cluster in Scorpius
About
NGC 6231, a young open cluster in Scorpius about 5,600 light-years away and only a few million years old. Its stars belong to Sco OB1, a loose family of young blue stars that also includes Zeta1 Scorpii, among the most luminous known. The cluster itself has three Wolf-Rayet stars.
Imaging tips
- The cluster itself is about 15′ across, but the surrounding association is framed at 200–340 mm on APS-C, which also takes in Collinder 316 about 61′ away.
- A wide field can hold the whole False Comet: this cluster is the head, and Trumpler 24 and Collinder 316 trail behind. Trumpler 24 sits in the Prawn Nebula, so red nebulosity comes with it.
- Hα data brought out faint nebulosity (Gum 56) around it in one LHaRGB image from a Bortle 8 backyard.
- Best in May and June. It stays below 0° from 50°N, so it never rises there.
Facts
- Size
- 120′
- Magnitude
- 2.6
- Coordinates
- RA 16h 54.2m, Dec −41° 49′
- Framing, APS-C
- 200–340 mm
- Framing, full frame
- 310–520 mm
- Best months
- May, Jun
- Peak altitude
- never rises from 50°N, 13° from 35°N
Nearby
- Cr316 · 60.6′ away