| NGC 3766 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Observation data (J2000epoch) | |
| Right ascension | 11h 36.1m |
| Declination | −61° 37′ |
| Distance | 5.5kly |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 5.3 |
| Apparent dimensions (V) | 12.0′ |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Radius | 9.6 ly |
| Easy to view viabinoculars ortelescope | |
| Other designations | NGC 3766,Caldwell 97,Collinder 248,Melotte 107, Dunlop 289, Lacaille III.7, C1133-613 |
| Associations | |
| Constellation | Centaurus |
| See also:Open cluster,List of open clusters | |
NGC 3766 (also known asCaldwell 97) is anopen star cluster in the southernconstellationCentaurus. It is located in the vast star-forming region known as the Carinamolecular cloud, and was discovered byNicolas Louis de Lacaille during his astrometric survey in 1751–1752.[2] At a distance of about 1745pc,[3] the cluster subtends a diameter of about 12minutes of arc.[4]
There are 137 listed stars, but many are likely non-members, with only 36 having accurate photometric data.[5] It has a totalapparent magnitude of 5.3 and integratedspectral type of B1.7.[3] NGC 3766 is relatively young, with an estimated age of log (7.160) or 14.4 million years,[4] and is approaching us at 14.8 km/s.[3] This cluster contains elevenBe stars, twored supergiants and fourAp stars.[5]
36 examples of an unusual type ofvariable star were discovered in the cluster. These fast-rotating pulsating B-type stars vary by only a few hundredths of amagnitude with periods less than half a day. They aremain sequence stars, hotter thanδ Scuti variables and cooler thanslowly pulsating B stars.[6]
Media related toNGC 3766 at Wikimedia Commons
