Constellation of the Month: ___
Scorpius Sign of the Zodiac (The Scorpion)

by: John Mirtle.
Page last updated: May 3, 2004

Contents
Small Scope Objects    Big Scope Objects    Challenge Objects    Maps    Photos

Small Scope Objects:

Name R.A. Decl. Details
  a Scorpii (Antares) 16hr 30m -26° 26' Greek for "Rival of Mars". This colourful double star is red and green, at magnitudes 0.9 and 6.5 . Separated by only 3 arc seconds, this pair can be difficult to split due to their position low in the southern sky.
  RR Scorpii 16hr 57m -30° 35' Located near M62 in Ophiuchus, this long period variable has a period of about 279 days. It varies from mag. 5.1 to 12.3
  M4
(NGC 6121)		 16hr 23.6m -26° 32' One of the most easily resolved globular clusters. 23 arc minutes in diameter, having a loose, unconcentrated structure. It's combined magnitude is 7.4, with brightest stars at magnitude 11. Look for the central "bar".
  M6!
(NGC 6405)		 17hr 40.1m -32° 13' The "Butterfly Cluster" - a bright open cluster of 132 stars, 6th magnitude and fainter, 26 arc minutes in diameter, glowing at magnitude 4.6. Can be difficult, as it reaches a maximum height of 7° above the southern horizon.
  M7!
(NGC 6475)		 17hr 53.9m -34° 49' A bright open cluster, 3.5° southeast of M6. 130 stars, 50 arc minutes in size. One of the brightest open clusters at mag. 3.3 . Only reaching a maximum of about 4° above the horizon, it will require good skies.
  M80
(NGC 6093)		 16hr 17.0m -22° 59' An 8th magnitude globular measuring 7 arc minutes in size. Bright and compact, it is difficult to resolve in smaller instruments.
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Big Scope Objects:

Name R.A. Decl. Details
  NGC 6144 16hr 27m -26° 03' A 10th magnitude globular, NE of Antares, NW of M4. 9 arc minutes across, faint and compact compared to M4.
  NGC 6416 17hr 44m -32° 21' A rich cluster of 25 stars, near M6. 20 arc minutes in diameter at magnitude 5.7
  NGC 6451 17hr 51m -30° 13' A rich, compact open cluster, near M6. 80 stars in an area only 8 arc minutes in diameter, magnitude 8.2
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Challenge Objects:

Name R.A. Decl. Details
  NGC 6383 17hr 35m -32° 34' A faint open cluster near M6 of about 12 faint stars, surrounding a 6th magnitude double star. 6 arc minutes across, mag. 5.5
  NGC 6425 17hr 47m -31° 32' A small open cluster near M6. 15 stars, mag 11 and fainter, 6 arc minutes in diameter. Magnitude 7.2
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Constellation Maps:

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Lines No Lines Reverse Reverse No Lines No Map

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Photos:


 
Photo 1
South is at top to match the view in an inverting telescope.
Photo credit: John Mirtle.
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