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NGC 3909
ESO217-SC008
RA 11:50:08
Dec -48° 14.3'
Open cluster |
Cluster first recorded by h at the Cape, who
wrote: "A fine, large, but coarse cluster class VII; stars 9, 10, 11th mag;
two double stars in it." On a second occasion, he recorded the "place
of a double star in a very large, not very compressed cluster; class VII; well
defined and insulated; has about 50 or 60 stars 9..12th mag, with a few 13..14,
all loosely scattered; little or no compression to the middle, more than fills
field."
The RNGC (Sulentic and Tifft 1973) notes that
this is a nonexistent object. Their coded description reads NOCL S.
11x80: Two degrees east, and
a bit south, of the noticeable chain of C-1, C-2 & C-3 Cen lies a tiny
triangle (or diamond) of 8th-9th mag stars, which points to NGC 3909 one degree
further east. Binoculars show it as half-degree irregularly-round area of
unresolved haze, with no overall mottling, but nevertheless a few 9.5 mag stars
seen. It is reasonably separated from the background, and quite distinct as a
nebulous presence. (suburban skies, 6.0 naked eye) [AS]
6-inch f/8.6 Newtonian: The
sweeper eyepiece (50’ field, 43x) shows a scattered grouping, not detached
from the background, but still quite noticeable. The view at 72x presents a
30arcmin field which is well-populated with stars. The cluster, consisting of 30
stars in total, appears as two broad groupings; a diamond west, and following a
triangular grouping (sketched). (suburban skies, lim mag 6.0 naked eye, seeing
very good) [AS] |
