May Challenge Object - IC2602

[iceman]

Hi all.

We'd love you to take part in the May Observing Challenge (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?id=69,198,0,0,1,0). Please post your observing reports and sketches for IC2602 in this thread. Discussions about the object can also be in this thread.

Please ensure scanned sketches obey the image posting guidelines when you attach them.

For deep-space images of the object, see the "Deep Space" astrophotography forum.

[CosMos]

This cluster is one of my favourite binocular clusters, also known as the "Southern Pleiades". The bright star theta Carinae lies at the heart of these diamond-like stars. Being over 1 degree in diameter, it fills the field of a low power eyepiece. Most people overlook the fainter and scattered open cluster Mel 101 just south of it. From a dark site, IC 2606 appears to the naked eye as more than a star. With care, a number of stars can be seen. :eyepop: