NGC 5139

Globular cluster NGC 5139

(= De Cheseaux No. 18

= Lacaille I.5

= Bennett 61

= Caldwell 80),

class VIII,

in Centaurus

Omega Centauri

Right Ascension	13 : 26.8 (h:m)
Declination	-47 : 29 (deg:m)
Distance	16.0 (kly)
Visual Brightness	3.68 (mag)
Apparent Dimension	36.3 (arc min)

This is the biggest of all globular clusters in our

Milky Way galaxy.

With its about 5 million solar masses, it is about 10 times as massive as other

big globulars, and has about the same mass as the smallest whole galaxies.

It is also the most luminous Milky Way globular, and the brightest

globular cluster in the sky.

In the Local Group, it is outshined only by

the brightest globular cluster G1 in the

Andromeda Galaxy M31.

The image in this page was obtained by David Malin with the

Anglo-Australian Telescope.

This image is copyrighted and may be used for private purpose only. For any other

kind of use, including internet mirroring and storing on CD-ROM, please contact

Coral Cooksley of the

Anglo Australian Observatory.

• More information on this image by David Malin

  Omega Centauri had been listed in Ptolemy’s catalog as a star. Halley was the

  first to document its nonstellar nature, and listed it as “luminous spot or

  patch in Centaurus” in his historical list

  of six such objects. Lacaille included it in

  his catalog as number I.5.

  In the SAC 110 best NGC object list.

  In John Caldwell’s observing list.

  In the

  Astronomical League’s Southern Sky Binocular Club list.

  
  

  ---

  Hartmut Frommert

  ([email protected])

  Christine Kronberg

  ([email protected])

  

  

  

  

  Last Modification: 22 Mar 1998, 21:25 MET