NGC 6242

NGC 6242
NGC 6242
Credit: DECaPS
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Right ascension16h 55m 30.7s[1]
Declination−39° 28′ 26″[1]
Distance4.35 ± 0.53 kly (1.335 ± 0.163 kpc)[2]
Apparent magnitude (V)6.4[3]
Apparent dimensions (V)9′[3]
Physical characteristics
Estimated age77.6[2] Myr
Other designationsNGC 6242, Cr 317[4]
Associations
ConstellationScorpius
See also: Open cluster, List of open clusters
Map showing the location of NGC 6242

NGC 6242 is an open cluster of stars in the southern constellation Scorpius. It can be viewed with binoculars or a telescope at about 1.5° to the south-southeast of the double star Mu Scorpii.[3] This cluster was discovered by French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille in 1752 from South Africa.[5] It is located at a distance of approximately 4,350 ly (1,335 pc) from the Sun,[2] just to the north of the Sco OB 1 association.[6] The cluster has an estimated age of 77.6 million years.[2]

A microquasar with the designation GRO J1655-40 is located in the vicinity of NGC 6242 and is moving away from the cluster with a runaway space velocity of 112±18 km/s. It may have originated in the cluster during a supernova explosion ~2.2×105 year ago.[7]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Tarricq_et_al_2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference Spina_et_al_2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Crossen_Rhemann_2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference simbad was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Jones_1969 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Sana_et_al_2006 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Combi_et_al_2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).