NGC 6281 / Scorpius
ngc6281
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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IAS - Internationale Amateuersternwarte e.V. - Hakos Observatory, Namibia

Mount
10Micron GM3000 HPS Links  WEBDA
Telescope IAS 10" Newton f/4.5 Award/published Astrobin
Camera QHY268M65
AAPOD2
Filter Chroma R/G/B
Exposure 92/95/98 x 60s
   
Total
4h 48min
Software
PixInsight

Date
May 2024
Location
IAS Hakos Remote Observatory, Namibia