Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Scorpius (Sco)  ·  Contains:  19 omi Sco  ·  20 sig Sco  ·  21 alf Sco  ·  22 i Sco  ·  5 rho Oph  ·  Alniyat  ·  Antares  ·  B42  ·  IC 4603  ·  IC 4604  ·  IC 4605  ·  M 4  ·  NGC 6121  ·  NGC 6144  ·  Scorpius  ·  Sh2-9  ·  The star 22Sco  ·  The star Al Niyat (σSco)  ·  The star Antares (αSco)  ·  The star οSco  ·  The star ρOph  ·  rho Oph nebula
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IC4604, IC 4605, IC 4603, NGC 6121, NGC 6144, Doug Lalla
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IC4604, IC 4605, IC 4603, NGC 6121, NGC 6144

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IC4604, IC 4605, IC 4603, NGC 6121, NGC 6144, Doug Lalla
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IC4604, IC 4605, IC 4603, NGC 6121, NGC 6144

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Description

Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex and Beyond



This entire complex of gas clouds, emission and reflection nebula and stars is know as the Rho Ophiuchi Complex. Our view of this region is dominated by the giant star Antares and the reflection and emission nebulas all at about a distance of 400-700 lyrs from us. Behind this cloud we see two beautiful globular cluster 7500-13000 light years from us and some of the oldest stars in our galaxy.

Some details (credit to Wikepidea, Earthsky.org, Simbad)

1. Antares, is an M1 Super Giant Star (yellow orange in color, low left), in that later phase of its existence, someday soon (tomorrow or 1 million yrs from now) it will explode into a super nova. Its current radius would extend beyond the diameter of Mars if put in place of the sun. Its is now putting out 60,000 time the energy of the sun. It is about 600 light years from us.

2. NGC 6121, also know as M4, is a globular cluster (Cataloged by William Hershel 1784),7500 light yrs from us. (Lower middle)It is estimated to by 12.2 billion yrs old (the galaxy is 13 billion yrs old) some of the oldest stars in our galaxy.

3. NGC 6144, is a globular cluster (Cataloged by William Herschel 1784), 13,000 light years from us. Just above and to the right of Antares.

4. Al Niyat, B type stars (fight side lower third), which is exciting the hydrogen gas around it with UV radiation causing it to glow red (Emission Nebula). It is a multiple star with it brightest component sigma radiating with the brightest component radiating 65000, and the dimmer 27,000 time the energy of the sun. They are at an average distance of 470 lyrs from us.

5. NGC 4605, is a B class stars about 335 times as bright as our sun about 400 lyrs away from us. Its light is scattered through the dust cloud resulting in the blue reflection nebula.

6. NGC 4603, is blue reflection nebula illuminated by the bright stars within it and is on the order of 400 lyrs away from us.

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IC4604, IC 4605, IC 4603, NGC 6121, NGC 6144, Doug Lalla