Sections

Catalogues

Show the direction and distance to this star cluster on the Galactic Map.

Proper Name	Coalsack Cluster
Caldwell Number	C98
NGC/IC Number	NGC 4609
Constellation	Crux
Right Ascension	12h 42m 20s
Declination	-62° 59' 42"
Distance	c.4,300 light years c.1,300 parsecs
Magnitude	Apparent: +6.9 Absolute: -3.7
Diameter	Apparent: 13' Actual: 16 light years
Number of Stars	c. 5
Optimum Visibility	April (Usually visible from southern latitudes)
Notes	A small open cluster of stars, taking its name from the fact that it falls within the dark nebula of the Coalsack, as seen from Earth. In fact the cluster is about twice as far from the Sun as the Coalsack itself, and the light of its stars shines through the dark cloud in the foreground.

v2.1g