C84
Globular Cluster in Centaurus
About
NGC 5286, a globular cluster in Centaurus about 36,000 light-years away, lying 4′ from M Centauri, a star visible without optical aid. An estimated age of about 12.5 billion years makes it possibly one of the oldest globulars in the Milky Way.
Imaging tips
- Small on the sky, so it needs a long focal length and a fine pixel scale; at 3670–6120 mm on APS-C it would span a third to half of the frame.
- The bright star M Centauri lies in the same field, so keep an eye on its glare near the cluster.
- Rarely imaged: the one write-up found used LRGB on a 31.75 cm f/9 Ritchey-Chrétien.
- Best in April and May, but it never rises from 50°N and peaks near 4° from 35°N.
Facts
- Size
- 6.6′
- Magnitude
- 7.3
- Coordinates
- RA 13h 46.4m, Dec −51° 22′
- Framing, APS-C
- 3670–6120 mm
- Framing, full frame
- longer than 4000 mm
- Best months
- Apr, May
- Peak altitude
- never rises from 50°N, 4° from 35°N