NGC 3532

NGC 3532
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Constellation	Carina
Right ascension	11h 05m 33s[1]
Declination	−58° 43.8′[1]
Distance	1,321[2] ly (405 pc)
Physical characteristics
Other designations	C 1104-584
See also: Open cluster, List of open clusters

NGC 3532, also known as the Wishing Well Cluster, is an open cluster in the constellation Carina. It got the name because through a telescope's eyepiece it appears like dozens of silver coins twinkling at the bottom of a wishing well.

About 1,321^[2] light years distant and consisting of approximately 150 stars of 7th magnitude & fainter, NCG 3532 was the first target ever observed by the Hubble Space Telescope on May 20, 1990. Mimosa (Beta Crucis) & Delcrux (Delta Crucis) in the Southern Cross roughly point to NCG 3532 and it lies between the Southern Cross constellation and larger but fainter “False Cross” asterism with X Carinae the nearest star right next to the cluster but not a member and Eta Carinae & its famous nebula not too far away along with a bunch of other nearby deep sky objects. (3372, 3293 & I.2581.)

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "NGC 3532 -- Cluster of Stars". SIMBAD Astronomical Database. Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg. http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=NGC+3532. Retrieved 2010-05-23. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Robichon, N.; et al. (2005). "Open clusters with Hipparcos. I. Mean astrometric parameters". Astronomy and Astrophysics 345: 471−484. arXiv:astro-ph/9903131. Bibcode 1999A&A...345..471R. 

Sources : Ridpath, Ian & Tirion, Wil, ’Collins Guide to Stars & Planets’, Collins, 2007 & Bakich, Michael E. (editor), ‘Hubble’s Greatest Pictures’, Kalmbach, 2008.

External links

• The Wishing Well Cluster
• Astrophotography Site Link
• NGC 3532 on WikiSky: DSS2, SDSS, GALEX, IRAS, Hydrogen α, X-Ray, Astrophoto, Sky Map, Articles and images

Coordinates: 11^h 05^m 12^s, −58° 44′ 1″