NGC 6231 (OC)
| R.A. | Dec. | Size | Mag | SB | Cnt.St | Type | Distance | Chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16h 54m 09.9s | -41° 49′ 33.3″ | 15.0′ | 2.6 | 8.2 | I3p | OC | -- | -- |
Background
NGC 6231 is the “Northern Jewel Box” or “False Comet” — a bright young open cluster about 5,500 light-years away, forming the core of the Sco OB1 stellar association. Contains several O-type and Wolf-Rayet stars; the brightest cluster members shine at 5th–7th magnitude and the cluster as a whole is a striking naked-eye target.
My Observing Notes
55-cm (Club 22-inch f/5 Lord Sidious): Visited as part of the Saturday-night greatest-hits tour with the Club's new 22-inch Dob. A spectacular bright cluster — brilliant against the rich Scorpius / Sco OB1 background.(11 April 2026)
25-cm (Meade 10-inch LX200, The Coffee Grinder): A bright cluster of 20–30 stars in a compact formation, easy naked-eye in the tail of Scorpius. Observed with the RA drive packed in, so manually nudged to centre.(Friday, April 2025)
References
Charts
