Southwest – Chart 1

SW Chart 1

LH OB Associations: –

NGC Objects: NGC 1466, 1557, 1629, 1651, 1673, 1693, 1695

Southwest Chart 1

Ancient globular cluster, NGC 1466, is the LMC’s westernmost object and it lies 2.6° SW of NGC 1557

Steve Gottlieb's observations

NGC 1466 (Ancient Globular Cluster)

RA 03 44 33.0 Dec -71 40 18 Mag 11.6 Size 3.5′ Age 13.1 billion years

16″ at 228x: This ancient globular cluster lies 4.7° WNW of Mu Mensae, and resides in the constellation Hydrus, but despite its isolation, the globular isn’t at all difficult to find as it is not only fairly prominent, but it is also situated 4′ WSW of mag 6.3 CT Hydri (HD 241888) and 2.2′ NNW of mag 8.9 HD 24115. At 13.1 billion years, NGC 1466 is one of the Cloud’s oldest globular clusters, and nestled within this ancient fossil are 49 known RR Lyrae variable stars. It’s a lovely old chap; bright, round, 2′ in diameter. It has a rich and even glow with a somewhat granular appearance along its edges. No stars are resolved. Bright mag 6.3 CT Hydri interferes with the observation.

NGC 1466

NGC 1557 (Open Cluster)

RA 04 13 11.0 Dec -70 28 18 Mag – Size 17′

16″ at 228x: This large and scattered Milky Way cluster or asterism is superimposed on the LMC. A couple of dozen or so mag 9+ stars are scattered randomly around bright mag 7 HD 27346. It’s always nice to bump into fellow Milky Way tourists in the Cloud.

NGC 1557

NGC 1629 (Open Cluster)

RA 04 29 36.0 Dec -71 50 18 Mag 12.7 Size 1.7′

16″ at 228x: NGC 1629 appears as a faint, round glow, ~35″ in diameter, with no stars resolved.

NGC 1629

NGC 1651 (Young Globular Cluster)

RA 04 29 36.0 Dec -71 50 18 Mag 12.7 Size 1.7′

16″ at 228x: This outlying young globular cluster is easy to locate for it lies 34′ NW of mag 5.5 Mu Mensae. It appears fairly faint, round, 1.5′ in diameter, brightening to the centre. No stars are resolved. A mag 13.5 star lies off the southeast edge, 1′ from the centre, with a small mag 15+ star lying a further ~18″ S of the star.

NGC 1651

SL 14 (Open Cluster)

RA 04 40 28.0 Dec -69 39 00 Mag 13.9 Size 1.1′

16″ at 228x: SL 14 appears as a faint, small, slightly irregular glow, ~20″ in diameter.

SL 14

NGC 1673 (Open Cluster)

RA 04 42 39.0 Dec -69 49 12 Mag 14.1 Size 1.0′

16″ at 228x: NGC 1673 appears faint, irregular, 30″ in diameter. A mag 14 star is resolved at the northeast end. A raggedy string of small stars wends its way northeast from the cluster; it’s very pretty, they look as if they are tethering the cluster. NGC 1673 forms a pair with SL 19 which lies 2′ E.

NGC 1673

SL 19 (Open Cluster)

RA 04 43 04.0 Dec -69 49 24 Mag – Size 0.9′

16″ at 228x: SL 19 appears as a faint, roundish glow, ~15″-20″ in diameter. It forms a pair with the larger and brighter NGC 1673 that lies 2′ W.

SL 19

NGC 1693 (Open Cluster)

RA 04 47 40.0 Dec -69 20 42 Mag 12.9 Size 1.1′ x 1.0′

16″ at 228x: NGC 1693 appears as a fairly faint, round, hazy glow, 25″ in diameter, brightening to the centre. No stars are resolved. It forms a triangle with brighter NGC 1695 which lies 2′ SSE and fainter HS 30 that lies 4.5′ SE. The triangle is enhanced by a trio of stars that lie within the triangle in a N-S direction. Two are ~mag 12, the other is fainter.

NGC 1693

NGC 1695 (Open Cluster)

RA 04 47 44.3 Dec -69 22 31 Mag 12.2 Size 1.4′ x 1.3′

16″ at 228x: NGC 1695 appears as a fairly bright, off-round glow, that brightens to the centre and is 35″ in diameter. No stars are resolved. It forms a nice triangle with the fainter and smaller NGC 1693 that lies 2′ NNW, and the faint glow of HS 30 that lies 3.8′ E.