| NGC 5281 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Right ascension | 13h 46m 35s[1] |
| Declination | −62° 55′ 00″[1] |
| Distance | 4,200 ly (1,300 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 5.9 [1] |
| Apparent dimensions (V) | 7' |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Estimated age | 45 million years |
| Other designations | vdBH 152, Collinder 276, Melotte 120 |
| Associations | |
| Constellation | Centaurus |
NGC 5281 is an open cluster in the constellation Centaurus. It was discovered by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in 1751-1752 from South Africa, and catalogued it as Lacaille I.7.[2][3] NGC 5281 is located three and a quarter degrees southwest of Beta Centauri. Under dark skies, it is bright enough to be spotted with naked eye, appearing as a 6th magnitude star.[4]
- ^ a b c "NGC 5281". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
- ^ Hartmut Frommert, Christine Kronberg NGC 5281 seds.org
- ^ Jones, K. G. (March 1969). "The search for the nebulae - VI". Journal of the British Astronomical Association. 79: 213–222. Bibcode:1969JBAA...79..213J.
- ^ O'Meara, Stephen James (2013). Deep-Sky Companions: Southern Gems. Cambridge University Press. p. 264. Bibcode:2013dcsg.book.....O. ISBN 9781107015012.