Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Centaurus (Cen)  ·  Contains:  NGC 3766  ·  Pearl Cluster
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NGC 3766, the beautiful open cluster in the vast Carina Molecular Cloud., Geoff Healey
NGC 3766, the beautiful open cluster in the vast Carina Molecular Cloud.
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NGC 3766, the beautiful open cluster in the vast Carina Molecular Cloud.

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
NGC 3766, the beautiful open cluster in the vast Carina Molecular Cloud., Geoff Healey
NGC 3766, the beautiful open cluster in the vast Carina Molecular Cloud.
Powered byPixInsight

NGC 3766, the beautiful open cluster in the vast Carina Molecular Cloud.

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Description

NGC 3766 (also known as Caldwell 97) is an open star cluster in the southern constellation Centaurus. It is located in the vast star-forming region known as the Carina molecular cloud, and was discovered by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille during his astrometric survey in 1751–1752. At a distance of about 5,500 light years, the cluster subtends a diameter of about 12 minutes of arc.There are 137 listed stars, but many are likely non-members, with only 36 having accurate photometric data. It has a total apparent magnitude of 5.3 and integrated spectral type of B1.7. NGC 3766 is relatively young, with an estimated age of  14.4 million years, and is approaching us at 14.8 km/s.This cluster contains eleven Be stars, two red supergiants and four Ap stars.36 examples of an unusual type of variable star were discovered in the cluster. These fast-rotating pulsating B-type stars vary by only a few hundredths of a magnitude with periods less than half a day. They are main sequence stars, hotter than δ Scuti variables and cooler than slowly pulsating B stars.Courtesy WIKILeading the way up to the cluster is a very loose group of lovely blue and red giant stars.

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NGC 3766, the beautiful open cluster in the vast Carina Molecular Cloud., Geoff Healey