NGC 5316 (OC)
Open Cluster in Centaurus
| R.A. | Dec. | Size | Mag | SB | Cnt.St | Type | Distance | Chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13h 53m 59.6s | -61° 52′ 10.4″ | 12.0′ | 6.0 | 11.1 | II2r | OC | -- | -- |
Source: POSS-2 UK Schmidt Red (STScI) | Field: 15′ × 15′
Background
NGC 5316 is a broad, sparse open cluster in Centaurus about 4,000 light-years away. Approximately 100 million years old, with around 80 members spread across half a degree.
My Observing Notes
25-cm (Meade 10-inch LX200, The Coffee Grinder): With Hadar (β Cen) sitting just on the edge of the field of view, NGC 5316 sits nicely in the FOV. Much broader and sparser than its neighbour NGC 5617, taking up most of the FOV in the 26 mm (0.43° AFOV).(Friday, May 2025)
References
Charts
Ultra-wide view (~25° field)
Wide-field view with Telrad rings (4°, 2°, 0.5°)
Finderscope view (9×50 RACI, ~4.4° TFOV)
Eyepiece view — 35 mm Panoptic on 12-inch f/5 (1.6° TFOV)