Open cluster · Crux
NGC 4609 Coalsack Cluster
Also known as: C98
mag 6.95.4′ across
About
NGC 4609, the Coalsack Cluster, is an open cluster of magnitude 6.9 in Crux, about 5.4′ across.
How to find it
- NGC 4609 is in the constellation Crux.
- Best evenings: around mid-May 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 17° N.
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
- EyesNot visible to the naked eye.
- Binoculars (10×50)A small hazy spot.
- 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 4609, C98 |
|---|---|
| Type | Open cluster |
| Magnitude | 6.9The smaller the number, the brighter. |
| Apparent size | 5.4′the full Moon is 31′ across |
| Constellation | Crux |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 12h 42m 16.8s |
| Declination (J2000) | −62° 59′ 45″ |
More in Crux
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 →