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Star Clusters Associated with LMC Visible from the Winter Star Party in the Florida Keys

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(@mike-napper)
Member Moderator Registered, Customer, NEFAS, ACAC
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 35
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I opened a topic in Cloudy Nights and am sharing it here in case anyone has something to share on the topic:

I recall reading an article or maybe a topic in these forums about star clusters associated with the Large Magellanic Cloud that clear the horizon in the Florida Keys.  Unfortunately, I can't find it now.  The Winter Star Party (WSP) is coming up next month and I want to try for one or more of the clusters if possible.  Looking at Sky Safari I've identified some candidates that appear to clear the horizon but the challenge looks daunting as only one clears the horizon by three degrees and the rest by even less.  All are about magnitude 12 or fainter and all are four arcminutes or less in size.  I selected six as candidates as they culminate two degrees or higher above the horizon.  They are NGC 1868, NGC 1900, NGC 1942, NGC 1997, NGC 2097 and NGC 2120.  Globular cluster NGC 1868 may be the best target.  It only culminates at about two degrees but is the brightest at magnitude 11.60 and the largest at 3.9 arcminutes.

Has anyone else seen such an article or ever tried this challenge?  Is my analysis valid or am I just off my rocker for even considering this? 

The attached image is cropped from a Sky Safari chart for the site of the WSP shortly after 8:00pm during the week of the upcoming star party.  The horizontal red line is the horizon and the vertical red line is the meridian.

 



   
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