NGC 104

Globular cluster NGC 104

(= Lacaille I.1

= Bennett 2

= Caldwell 106),

class III,

in Tucana

47 Tucanae

Right Ascension	00 : 24.1 (h:m)
Declination	-72 : 05 (deg:m)
Distance	13.4 (kly)
Visual Brightness	4.03 (mag)
Apparent Dimension	30.9 (arc min)

The second largest and second brightest globular cluster in the skies is

situated so much south that, although a conspicuous naked-eye object, it was

not discovered before 1751, when Lacaille cataloged it in his

list of southern nebulous objects.

The stars of 47 Tucanae are spread over a volume nearly 120 light years across.

At their distance of 13,400 light years, they still cover an area of the sky of

about the same apparent diameter as the full moon, about 30 minutes of arc.

Globular cluster 47 Tucanae is approaching us at roughly 19 km/s.

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 (David Malin)

  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: 29 Mar 1998, 13:15 MET