The Southern Pleiades (ic2602)

IC2602, a.k.a The Southern Pleiades, is an open star cluster in the constellation of Carina. It's easily visible to the naked eye as a patch of stars near the Carina Nebula and shines at an integrated magnitude of 1.9. Which is 70% fainter than the Pleiades, themselves. The cluster is the third brightest in the sky and lies at a distance of 547ly (167.7pc). It contains 74 stars, including theta Carina, which is the brightest member of the cluster. Discovered by Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille in 1751, the cluster is best viewed in binoculars or a wide angle eyepiece. The cluster is part of the Lower Scorpius-Centaurus OB Association and is about 13,7million years old, around the same age as the cluster ngc2391, and is probably associated with it. Pic was taken with t68, at the Bathurst Observatory (BAT-iTelescope Network). 15x60sec subs.
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