Astronomy:NGC 2516

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Short description: Open cluster in the constellation Carina
NGC 2516
NGC 2516.jpg
NGC 2516
Observation data (J2000.0 epoch)
ConstellationCarina
Right ascension 07h 58m 20s
Declination−60° 52′
Distance1.3 kly
Apparent magnitude (V)3.8
Apparent dimensions (V)30.0
Physical characteristics
Mass105 to 106[citation needed] M
Other designationsNGC 2516, Caldwell 96, Cr 172
See also: Open cluster, List of open clusters

NGC 2516 (also known as Caldwell 96) is an open star cluster in the southern sky in the constellation Carina discovered by Abbe Lacaille in 1751-1752. It is also called Southern Beehive[1][2] or the Sprinter.[3][4]

Description

This bright cluster itself is easily visible with the naked eye as a hazy patch, but is resolvable into stars using binoculars. It contains two 5th magnitude red giant stars and three main visual double stars: HJ 4027, HJ 4031 and I 29. A small telescope would be required to split the double stars, which are all pairs of 8-9 magnitude and 1-10 arcseconds separation.[5]

NGC 2516 and the recently discovered nearby star cluster Mamajek 2 in Ophiuchus have similar age and metallicity. Recently, kinematic evidence was presented by E. Jilinski and coauthors that suggests that these two stellar groups may have formed in the same star-forming complex some 135 million years ago.[6]

The cluster is surrounded by the 500-parsec diameter halo consisting of stars ejected from cluster.[7]

References

  1. Weule, Genelle (2010). "Beginner's Guide to the Night Sky : Summer Sky Tour". abc.com. http://oneminuteastronomer.com/1135/southern-beehive-cluster/. 
  2. Ventrudo, Brian (2009). "ESA's 'The "Southern Beehive" Cluster". americaspace.com. http://oneminuteastronomer.com/1135/southern-beehive-cluster/. 
  3. Papadopoulos, Leonidas (2014). "ESA's 'Mission: Impossible' Sees First Light: Gaia Opens Her Eyes to the Galaxy « AmericaSpace". americaspace.com. http://www.americaspace.com/?p=52966. 
  4. Imaging the Southern Sky : An Amateur Astronomer's Guide Chadwick, S., Cooper, I., pg.viii, Pub. Springer (2012)
  5. Robert Burnham Jr. (1978). Burnham's Celestial Handbook. p. 458. 
  6. Jilinski, E.; Ortega, V.G.; de la Reza, R.; Drake, N.A. et al. (2009). "Dynamical Evolution and Spectral Characteristics of the Stellar Group Mamajek 2". Astrophysical Journal 691 (1): 212. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/691/1/212. Bibcode2009ApJ...691..212J. 
  7. Bouma, L. G.; Curtis, J. L.; Hartman, J. D.; Winn, J. N.; Bakos, G. Á. (2021), "Rotation and Lithium Confirmation of a 500 pc Halo for the Open Cluster NGC 2516", The Astronomical Journal 162 (5): 197, doi:10.3847/1538-3881/ac18cd, Bibcode2021AJ....162..197B 

Bibliography

  • Burnham, Robert. Burnham's Celestial Handbook. Dover, 1978. ISBN:0-486-23567-X.

External links

Coordinates: Sky map 07h 58m 20s, −60° 52′ 00″