Deep space
NGC 6231
Open cluster and nebula · C76 · NGC 6231
Open cluster and nebula in Scorpius
Photo: Credit – X-ray: NASA/CXC/Univ. of Valparaiso/M. Kuhn et al; IR: NASA/JPL/WISE · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
NGC 6231 is an open cluster in the southern sky located half a degrees north of Zeta Scorpii. NGC 6231 is part of a swath of young, bluish stars in the constellation Scorpius known as the Scorpius OB1 association. The star Zeta1 is a member of this association, while its brighter apparent partner, Zeta2, is only 150 ly from Earth and so is not a member.
Description from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
In your sky
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Key facts
Distance
~6,000 light-years
Apparent mag.
+2.6
Apparent size
13.8′
Best seen with
Naked eye
Catalogue
C76 · NGC 6231
Did you know
- Listed as Caldwell 76 in the Caldwell catalogue, also known as NGC 6231.
- Found in the constellation Scorpius.
- Bright enough to see with the naked eye.
