NGC 3766 - THE PEARL CLUSTER

CENTAURUS

Location (ra: 11:36,1/ dec -61.37)

DATA

TYPE: Open Cluster

VISUAL MAGNITUDE: 5.3

SIZE: Object 12 arc minutes

DISTANCE 5500 light years

OBJECT DESCRIPTION

This marvellous cluster was one of the first object I had the privilege to observe through an eyepiece. Very bright even in light polluted skies, it is easy detectable through a the finder scope. The cluster is also known as the "Pearl Cluster" was discovered by Albert Lacaille in 1752 from South Africa. It is also a good binocular target even for light polluted skies. NGC 3766 is a very dense open cluster and shimmers like a pearl which is how its got the nickname.

The guiding was quite poor since the scope was placed without a proper alignment. In addition the ED glass was not properly placed into its house therefore the image was cropped to the best side of the FOV. This nice target deserves a second shot

IMAGE INFORMATION

SCOPE: Orion ED 80 @f7.5

MOUNT: MEADE LXD 75

SKY CONDITIONS: very good

CAMERA: Canon DSRL 20Da

FILTERS: IDAS LPS

EXPOSSURES: 20 x 15 seconds  

PROCESSED: Sigma Combine in ImagesPlus, Photoshop CS