#caldwell 102

[quiltofstars]

The Southern Pleiades, C102 // Peter Ambrose

The brightest star in the Southern Pleiades (IC 2602) is θ Carinae, a blue-white giant star about 15 times more massive and 5 times larger than the Sun. The entire cluster is about 13.7 million years old, relatively young.

[quiltofstars]

The Southern Pleiades, C102 // Klaus Vonderschmidt

An open cluster in the constellation of Carina, the Keel, the Southern Pleiades (IC 2602) is located about 486 light years away, making it one of the nearest open clusters to Earth. Containing about 75 stars, it is the third brightest open cluster in the sky, behind the Pleiades and the Hyades. It was discovered by Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille (1713-1762) in 1751.