NGC 2360

Coordinates: Sky map 07h 17m 42s, −15° 38′ 00″
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
J2000 epoch)
Right ascension07h 17m 43s[1]
Declination−15° 38′ 29″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V)7.2[2]
Apparent dimensions (V)13′[2]
Physical characteristics
Other designationsCaroline's Cluster,[3] Caldwell 58, Cr 134, Mel 64[3]
Associations
ConstellationCanis Major
See also: Open cluster, List of open clusters
Map showing the location of NGC 2360

NGC 2360 (also known as Caroline's Cluster

eclipsing binary star R Canis Majoris; it has a combined apparent magnitude of 7.2.[5] It is 13 arc minutes in diameter.[2] By the western edge of the cluster is the unrelated star, 5.5-magnitude HD 56405.[6]

American astronomer Olin J. Eggen surveyed the cluster in 1968, concluding that the brightest star in the field, magnitude-8.96 HD 56847, is likely to lie in the field and not a true member of the cluster. He also identified one or possibly two blue stragglers.[7] These are unexpectedly hot and luminous stars that appear younger than surrounding stars, and have likely developed by sucking matter off companion stars.[8] Four are now recognised to be in the cluster.[9] By analysing the masses of the smallest stars that have evolved into red giants—namely, stars of 1.8 or 1.9 solar masses—Swiss astronomers Jean-Claude Mermilliod and Michel Mayor were able to date the age of the cluster at 2.2 billion years.[10] The cluster has a diameter of around 15 light-years and is located 3700 light-years from Earth.[5]


Sirius and M41 (lower right), M50 (upper left), and NGC 2360 (lower left)

Notes

  1. ^ a b "Results for NGC 2360". NGC/IC Project Database. Archived from the original on 2012-05-20. Retrieved 2010-12-03.
  2. ^ a b c "SEDS Online NGC Database". Results for NGC 2360. Retrieved 2010-12-03.
  3. ^ a b c "NGC 2360". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2010-12-03.
  4. ^
    S2CID 118428465
    .
  5. ^
    ISBN 978-0-521-82796-6
    .
  6. ^ Streicher, Magda (April 2006). "Caroline Herschel's Deepsky Discoveries" (PDF). Deepsky Delights. The Astronomical Society of Southern Africa. pp. 234–36. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  7. doi:10.1086/149526
    .
  8. ^ Fellman, Megan (17 October 2011). "Astronomers Explain 'Blue Stragglers'". News. Evanston, Illinois: Northwestern University. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  9. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20054590
    .
  10. Bibcode:1990A&A...237...61M
    .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to NGC 2360.


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