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NGC 3247 - RCW 49 - WESTERLUND 2 - IC 2581

AKA THE WHIRLING DERVISH NEBULA

 CLUSTER ASSOCIATED WITH NEBULOSITY IN CARINA (THE KEEL)   

(Image centered at: ra 10 h:25 m / dec - 57º 46')

 

 

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IMAGE LABELED

 

May  2022, Sarandi, Gualeguayachu, Entre Rios, Argentina

 


 

DATA

TYPE: Open Cluster associated with nebulosity r

APPARENT DIAMETER: 1 degree FOV 

VISUAL BRIGHTNESS: IC 2581 4,2; NGC 3247 7,6

DISTANCE: 13,700 light years 

 

IMAGE INFORMATION1

INSTRUMENT: 8" ORION OPTICS UK (Ultra Grade Optics) w/Televue Paracorr working at at f5,75

CAMERA: QSI 583 WS

MOUNT: SKY WATCHER NEQ6, OAG with Starligh Xpress Lodestar

FILTERS: Baader LRGB Set

SKY CONDITIONS: rural skies - Bortle 4 to 5

EXPOSURES: LHaRGB (40,40,40,40,40)

 

OBJECT DESCRIPTION AND IMAGE SESSION

 

RCW 49, also known as NGC 3247, is a H II region located 13,700 light years away and it is commonly known as the Whirling Dervish Nebula. It is a dusty stellar nursery that contains more than 2,200 stars and is about 300-400 light years across. RCW 49 is recognized as among the brightest and most massive HII regions in our galaxy. Within NGC 3247 we have Westerlund 2: an obscured compact young star cluster perhaps even a Super Star Cluster.

Super Star Clusters are very massive young open clusters that are thought to be the precursors of a globular cluster. These clusters called "super" because they are relatively more luminous and contain more mass than other young star clusters, however, does "super open clusters" do not have to be physically larger than other clusters of lower mass and luminosity. They typically contain a very large number of young, massive stars that ionize a surrounding HII region 

 

A very humid and hazy night sky with regular seeing

 


 

NGC 3247 - RCW 49 - WESTERLUND 2 - IC 2581

AKA THE WHIRLING DERVISH NEBULA

 

ANNOTATED IMAGE