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NGC 6823 & 6820 (aka Sh 2-86)

OPEN CLUSTER WITH NEBULOSITY IN VULPECULA

 (ra 19:43.1/ dec 23:18)

 

 

 

June 2013 - Camping La Porteña - San Antonio de Areco, Buenos Aires, Argentina

 


DATA

TYPE:  Open Cluster with Nebulosity

Apparent magnitude for NGC 6823: 7.1

Apparent diameter for NGC 6823 12 arc minutes

Distance: 6.000 light years

 

IMAGE INFORMATION

SCOPE: 8" Orion Optics UK with Televue Paracorr

CAMERA: QSI 583 WS

FILTERS: Baader LRGB, 2" IDAS LPS for all channels

SKY CONDITIONS: rural skies 35 % Moon

EXPOSURES: LHaRGB (60,60,30,30,30)

 

OBJECT DESCRIPTION AND IMAGE SESSION

The open Cluster NGC 6823 is surrounded by an emission nebula complex known as Sh 2-86, in the northern constellation of Vulpecula. The nebula exhibits a pillar of dust and gas on the east side of the cluster, that might have got its shape from the radiation originated from the young stars in the area.  The central open cluster NGC 6823 its only 2 million years old and extends over some 50 million light years. With large aperture telescopes about fifty stars can be seen, including the four central stars (magnitudes 9 to 11.5) found near the core.  
NGC 6820 is the small yellowish nebulosity located at the bottom right of the image, often misidentified as Sh 2-86.
 
Although for southern observers the object lies rather low, it can be photographed from rural skies. NGC 6823 is almost 32º above the horizon at its highest, while crossing the meridian in Buenos Aires' winter time.