| NGC 6281 | |
|---|---|
 NGC 6281 | |
| Observation data (J2000epoch) | |
| Right ascension | 17h 04.7m[1] |
| Declination | −37° 59′[1] |
| Distance | 1,611 ly (494 pc)[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 5.4[2] |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mass | 214[3] M☉ |
| Estimated age | 3.23 × 108 yr[1] |
| Other designations | C 1701-378[2] |
| Associations | |
| Constellation | Scorpius |
| See also:Open cluster,List of open clusters | |
NGC 6281 (also informally known as theMoth Wing Cluster[4]) is anopen cluster of stars in the constellationScorpius. It was not included in theMessier orCaldwell catalogues of nebulous objects, but it is the brightest such cluster in the constellation to be left out of both. It is readily observed with the naked eye; it is located about 2° to the east ofMu Scorpii.James Dunlop described the cluster as a "curiously curved line of pretty bright stars, with many stars mixt".John Herschel then described the cluster as both "pretty bright" and "pretty rich".[5][6]
This cluster has a tidal radius of 26 ly (8.0 pc) and a mass of about 214solar masses.[3] It is classified as a type II2p cluster and has 55 members with avisual magnitude of 13.5 or greater within 20 arcminutes of the center.[7] The brightest member is 9th magnitude. Overall, the cluster has anintegrated visual magnitude of 5.4.[6]
Media related toNGC 6281 at Wikimedia Commons