Open cluster · Centaurus
NGC 5617 Dracula Cluster
mag 6.35.1′ across
About
NGC 5617, the Dracula Cluster, is an open cluster of magnitude 6.3 in Centaurus, about 5.1′ across.
How to find it
- NGC 5617 is in the constellation Centaurus.
- Best evenings: around mid-June 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 19° 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 5617 |
|---|---|
| Type | Open cluster |
| Magnitude | 6.3The smaller the number, the brighter. |
| Apparent size | 5.1′the full Moon is 31′ across |
| Constellation | Centaurus |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 14h 29m 44.1s |
| Declination (J2000) | −60° 42′ 39″ |
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 →