[Quark (Trevor)]

Hi Nicholas,

Cent A or NGC 5128 is quite easy to find.

Coming from Beta Cent or Hadar and heading northish at a PA of +332 degrees you will run into the bright magnitude 2.3 star HIP 66657 about 7 1/2 degrees from Hadar. Continue on in the same direction for just about the same distance that HIP 66657 is from Hadar and you have arrived at Omega Cent or NGC 5139.

Having arrived at Omega Cent, which is clearly naked eye, if you place it on the southern edge of the field of view of a 8 x 50 finder, then Cent A or NGC 5128 will be within the fov of the finder, pretty well due north of Omega Cent.

Although it is visible in the finder, it helps to gently rock the scope, as Cent A will be very small and dim in the finder. The gentle rocking movement of the scope will make Cent A more apparent and easier to pick from the stars in the field.

Regards
Trevor