NGC 2808 (GC)
| R.A. | Dec. | Size | Mag | SB | Cnt.St | Type | Distance | Chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09h 12m 03s | -64° 51′ 46′′ | 9.0′ | 5.7 | 11.4 | -- | GC | 31.6 kly | SA1 14 |
Background
NGC 2808 is one of the most massive globular clusters in the Milky Way, containing over a million stars within its 14 light-year core radius. Hubble photometry reveals at least three distinct stellar populations, unusual for a globular and suggesting a complex formation history that may involve a stripped dwarf-galaxy nucleus.
My Observing Notes
30-cm (SkyWatcher 12-inch f/5): At 94 × (16 mm Nagler) the cluster sits on the cusp of being fully resolved. Stepping up to 167 × (9 mm Nagler) brings the resolved stars into focus. Averted vision extends the halo significantly. Three chains of stars (perhaps foreground field stars) extend out like spiral arms from the core. (10 April 2026)
25-cm (Meade 10-inch LX200, The Coffee Grinder): Although relatively bright at magnitude 6.3, the dense core resists resolution even at higher magnifications in the 10-inch.(Thursday, April 2025)
References
Charts
