Cr228
Open Cluster in Carina
About
An open cluster lying in the Carina Nebula's southern region, about 25′ south of Eta Carinae and listed at roughly 10,000 light-years. Its stars probably formed from the nebula's material. Its brightest member is QZ Carinae, and it also holds the Wolf-Rayet star WR 24.
Imaging tips
- A 0.55° field with Trumpler 14 and the Keyhole Nebula near Eta Carinae shows Collinder 228 just below Eta Carinae, so the clusters share a frame.
- At about 15′, 1620–2690 mm on APS-C frames the cluster alone; the surrounding nebula needs a wider view.
- A star cluster, so broadband imaging suits the cluster itself.
- Best in February and March, but it never rises from 50°N and stays below the horizon at 35°N, so it needs a far southern site.
Facts
- Size
- 15′
- Magnitude
- 4.4
- Coordinates
- RA 10h 44.0m, Dec −60° 5′
- Framing, APS-C
- 1620–2690 mm
- Framing, full frame
- 2480–4130 mm
- Best months
- Feb, Mar
- Peak altitude
- never rises from 50°N, never rises from 35°N