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NGC 2818
Mel 96, Cr 206, Rb 82
RA 09:16:10
Dec -36°37.6'
Open
cluster |
Dunlop 564: "a pretty large faint nebula
of a round figure, 6' or 8' diameter; the nebulosity is faintly diffused to a
considerable extent. There is a small nebula in the north preceding side, which
is probably a condensation of the faint diffused nebulous matter; the large
nebula is resolvable into stars with nebula remaining."
h: "A very curious object which reminds
me strongly of Messier's 46 [NGC 2437] and IV.39 [NGC 2438]. It is a rich
cluster of the VI class; stars 12..14th mag; about 8' diameter; gpmbM; all but a
sort of vacuity, in which is situated a pB, R, neb; 40 arcseconds diameter; of a
character approaching to planetary, having its edges shading off very rapidly,
and being but very little brighter in the middle." On a second occassion he
called it "pB, R, vgvlbM from the edge, where it fades off very suddenly;
being all but a planetary nebula. Situtated in a sort of vacancy in the
preceding part of a fine rich cluster of stars 11..15th mag, which nearly fills
the field. It is a fellow object to Messier's 46, with its enclosed planetary
nebula IV.39. Plate V, fig.8."
Harrington calls this a rather unimpressive
8th magnitude cluster of about 40 faint stars. He writes: "however, after
careful examination, observers will find more than initially meets the eye. On
the west-northwest edge of the cluster, casting a gray image, lies the dim
planetary nebula NGC 2818A."
Houston notes: "This cluster contains
about a score of stars in an area 9' in diameter.
Sanford notes that this 8.2 magnitude cluster
is about 9' across and consists of "about 30 faint stars." He adds
that at least an 8-inch telescope is needed to see the combination of cluster
and planetary nebula (NGC 2818A) well.
Ostuno calls it a cluster of about 40 stars,
including a planetary nebula believed to be an actual cluster member.
Steve Coe, observing with a 13” f/5.6,
notes: “This same NGC number is applied to an open star cluster and a
planetary nebula involved within that cluster. The cluster is pretty faint,
pretty large, somewhat elongated, 16 stars were counted across a hazy backround
at 135X on a night I rated 5/10, on a much better night (7/10) I called the
cluster pretty bright and could resolve 34 members at 150X. The planetary nebula
is easy at all powers on the Eastern edge of the open cluster. A few dark lanes
are seen in the planetary at 165X, it is light green at all powers.”
11x80: I had expected this
cluster to be much brighter, and was surprised when it was only clearly seen
with averted vision as a soft, round glow. (suburban skies) [AS] |
