Open clusters in a colorful environment (NGC 6281)

Image Title: Open clusters in a colorful environment

Copyright: Herbert Walter

Date image was taken: May 16, 2024

Location: IAS Hakos Remote Observatory, Namibia

Image Description and Details: NGC 6281 is an open cluster of stars in the constellation Scorpius. It was not included in the Messier or Caldwell catalogues of nebulous objects, but it is the brightest such cluster in the constellation to be left out of both. It is readily observed with the naked eye; it is located about 2° to the east of Mu Scorpii. James Dunlop described the cluster as a "curiously curved line of pretty bright stars, with many stars mixt". John Herschel then described the cluster as both "pretty bright" and "pretty rich". This cluster has a tidal radius of 26 ly (8.0 pc) and a mass of about 214 solar masses. It is classified as a type II2p cluster and has 55 members with a visual magnitude of 13.5 or greater within 20 arcminutes of the center. The brightest member is 9th magnitude. Overall, the cluster has an integrated visual magnitude of 5.4.

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Exposure R/G/B 92/95/98 x 60s
Total 4h 48min
Software PixInsight
Date May 2024

Equipment Details: Mount 10Micron GM3000 HPS
Telescope IAS 10" Newton f/4.5
Camera QHY268M65
Filter Chroma R/G/B

Name: Herbert Walter

Website or Facebook Profile: http://www.skypixels.at/ngc6281_IAS_Remote_info.html