NGC 6383 is an open cluster of stars in the constellation of Scorpius. It was discovered by English astronomer John Herschel in 1847. In the New General Catalogue it was also identified as NGC 6374, most likely due to a clerical error.[5] This is a large cluster of scattered stars that spans an angular diameter of 20. The brightest component is the O-type binary star system designated HD 159176 (HR 4962). Against the glare of this sixth magnitude star, a handful of fainter members are visible with a pair of large binoculars.[3]

NGC 6383
Observation data
Right ascension17h 34m 41.5s[1]
Declination−32° 34′ 23″[1]
Distance3,540 ± 340 ly (1,086 ± 104 pc)[2]
Apparent dimensions (V)20[3]
Physical characteristics
Estimated age12.1+4.2
−3.1
 Myr[2]
Other designationsNGC 6383, Cl VDBH 232[4]
Associations
ConstellationScorpius
See also: Open cluster, List of open clusters

The cluster NGC 6383 is located at a distance of approximately 3,540 light-years (1,086 pc) from the Sun.[2] It forms part of the Milky Way galaxy's Carina–Sagittarius Arm in a star forming region identified as Sh 2-012,[6] and lies in front of a dust absorption cloud. The cluster is likely part of the Sagittarius OB1 association, as are the clusters NGC 6530 and NGC 6531. This cluster, and in particular the ionizing radiation from the star HD 159176, form the H II region RCW 132, which span a crescent-shaped volume that has an angular size of 110′ × 80′.[5]

This is a young cluster with age estimates ranging from 4 to 20 million years, and has not yet achieved dynamic relaxation. It has 254 members identified, with 53 forming young stellar objects,[6] and 21 being hot, massive OB stars. 76 secondary X-ray sources have been detected, with most of them concentrated near the core.[5] Newly-formed stars range in age from 1–6 million years old, indicating recent star formation activity. The cluster has a compact core radius of 1.94′±0.19′ and a tidal radius of 40.7′±14.4′.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b Tarricq, Y.; et al. (March 2021), "3D kinematics and age distribution of the open cluster population", Astronomy & Astrophysics, 647, id. A19, arXiv:2012.04017, Bibcode:2021A&A...647A..19T, doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202039388.
  2. ^ a b c Dias, W. S.; et al. (June 2021), "Updated parameters of 1743 open clusters based on Gaia DR2", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 504 (1): 356–371, arXiv:2103.12829, Bibcode:2021MNRAS.504..356D, doi:10.1093/mnras/stab770.
  3. ^ a b Crossen, Craig; Rhemann, Gerald (2012), Sky Vistas: Astronomy for Binoculars and Richest-Field Telescopes, Springer Vienna, pp. 52–53, ISBN 9783709106266.
  4. ^ "NGC 6383". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  5. ^ a b c Rauw, G.; De Becker, M. (December 2008), Reipurth, Bo (ed.), "The Multiwavelength Picture of Star Formation in the Very Young Open Cluster NGC 6383", Handbook of Star Forming Regions, volume II, The Southern Sky ASP Monograph Publications, vol. 5, p. 497, arXiv:0808.3887, Bibcode:2008hsf2.book..497R.
  6. ^ a b c Pulgar-Escobar, L. M.; et al. (May 2024), "Characterizing NGC 6383: A study of pre-main sequence stars, mass segregation, and age using Gaia DR3 and 2MASS", arXiv:2405.09145 [astro-ph.SR]

Further reading

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