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NGC 3114

Open Cluster in Carina 

 ( ra: 10:03:09 / dec -60º 09' 56")

 

 

CLICK IN THE IMAGE FOR A HIGHER RESOLUTION VIEW

 

February 2012, Ecologic Farm YAMAY

Buenos Aires, Argentina

 

 


 

DATA

TYPE: Open Cluster 

V mag: 4.2

SIZE: 35 arc minutes

DISTANCE: 3260 light years

   

OBJECT DESCRIPTION AND IMAGE SESSION

Scottish Astronomer James Dunlop discovered this fantastic cluster located in the northern side of the constellation of Carina, 5 degrees west from the Keyhole Nebula. It is a bright cluster and a very good target for binoculars and small telescopes or even to keen eye observer. Due the fact it is located in the galactic plane, it has a very dense stellar background. Unfortunately because of the mentioned fact, its studies are difficult to perform.

 

The cluster which is about 100 million years old, contains three or may be four long curved chains of bright stars giving a peculiar appearance. Not many pictures found in the www, but there is no doubt is a very handsome object of the southern hemisphere.

 

The picture was taken in a star party organized by Diego Hernandez and friends form  Aves Argentinas in the very nice Yamay Farm

 

IMAGE INFORMATION

SCOPE: William Optics ZenithStar 66 f4.8

MOUNT: Sky Watcher NEQ6

SKY CONDITIONS: Transparency and seeing good

CAMERA: QSI 583 WS -10Cº

FILTERS: Baader Luminance + and RGB set

EXPOSURES: LRGB (20,20,20,20)

GUIDING: Synta 70/300 and Starlight Xpress Lodestar Camera. PHD Guiding

PROCESSING: Images Plus (Dark substraction Sigma Median Combination); CCD Sharp; NASA Photoshop Fits Liberator, Photoshop CS