Open cluster · Carina
NGC 3114 Hand Cluster
mag 4.212′ across
About
NGC 3114, the Hand Cluster, is an open cluster of magnitude 4.2 in Carina, about 12′ across.
How to find it
- NGC 3114 is in the constellation Carina.
- Best evenings: around early April it is highest at about 9 pm (10 pm in summer time); a month earlier, two hours later.
- Where on Earth: it is seen well, at least 10° up, from south of 20° N.
- False Cross: A large, scattered cluster 6° east of Aspidiske; binoculars.
When it rises and sets tonight, how high it climbs and how much the Moon gets in the way are worked out in your browser for your place.
What you will see
- EyesA hazy patch or a knot of faint stars from a dark site.
- Binoculars (10×50)A small knot of stars, partly resolved.
- Telescope (6–8 inch)Dozens of stars, many sharp and some coloured.
For a dark country sky with no Moon. From a city, faint galaxies and nebulae can disappear completely.
Facts
| Designations | NGC 3114 |
|---|---|
| Type | Open cluster |
| Magnitude | 4.2The smaller the number, the brighter. |
| Apparent size | 12′the full Moon is 31′ across |
| Constellation | Carina |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 10h 02m 29.6s |
| Declination (J2000) | −60° 07′ 50″ |
Sources and credits
Catalog data: OpenNGC by Mattia Verga, CC BY-SA 4.0, and d3-celestial by Olaf Frohn, BSD 3-Clause. All data sources →