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".[4][5]
| NGC 6281 | |
|---|---|
 NGC 6281 Credit: DECaPS | |
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Right ascension | 17h 04.7m [1] |
| Declination | −37° 59′[1] |
| Distance | 1,611 ly (494 pc)[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 5.4[2] |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mass | 214[3] M☉ |
| Estimated age | 3.23 × 108 yr[1] |
| Other designations | C 1701-378[2] |
| Associations | |
| Constellation | Scorpius |
This cluster has a tidal radius of 26 ly (8.0 pc) and a mass of about 214 solar masses.[3] 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.[6] The brightest member is 9th magnitude. Overall, the cluster has an integrated visual magnitude of 5.4.[5]
References edit
- ^ a b c d Kharchenko, N. V.; Piskunov, A. E.; Röser, S.; Schilbach, E.; et al. (August 2005). "Astrophysical parameters of Galactic open clusters". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 438 (3): 1163–1173. arXiv:astro-ph/0501674. Bibcode:2005A&A...438.1163K. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20042523. S2CID 9079873.
- ^ a b "NGC 6281 -- Cluster of Stars". SIMBAD. Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
- ^ a b Piskunov, A. E.; Schilbach, E.; Kharchenko, N. V.; Röser, S.; et al. (January 2008). "Tidal radii and masses of open clusters". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 477 (1): 165–172. Bibcode:2008A&A...477..165P. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20078525.
- ^ Crossen, Craig; Rhemann, Gerald (2004). Sky vistas: astronomy for binoculars and richest-field telescopes. Springer. p. 52. ISBN 978-3-211-00851-5.
- ^ a b O'Meara, Stephen James (2007). Hidden treasures: Deep-sky companions. Cambridge University Press. p. 400. ISBN 978-0-521-83704-0.
- ^ Schneider, H. (1985). "Stromgren photometry of open clusters. I - NGC 6281, NGC 6405". Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series. 61: 45–51. Bibcode:1985A&AS...61...45S.
External links edit
Media related to NGC 6281 at Wikimedia Commons
