NGC 6322
Young Open Cluster, Scorpius
NGC 6322 is a very young open cluster in the constellation Scorpius, discovered by British astronomer John Herschel in 1834.
According to Robert Trumpler’s classification of open clusters, this cluster contains fewer than 50 stars with a high concentration and magnitudes distributed over a medium interval. However, according to the Lynga catalogue, (a catalog of open cluster data, as compiled by Gosta Lynga, Lund Observatory), the magnitude distribution of the stars in NGC 6322 is large and the cluster contains between 50 and 100 stars. However, Lynga indicates that the cluster contains 30 members. This contradiction between the classification and the number of members is not uncommon in the Lynga catalogue. With a visual magnitude of 6.0, it is easy to observe with small binoculars. NGC 6322 is located about 1.1 degrees northeast of the star Eta Scorpii and 3.5 degrees northeast of Theta Scorpii.
According to Robert Trumpler’s classification of open clusters, this cluster contains fewer than 50 stars with a high concentration and magnitudes distributed over a medium interval. However, according to the Lynga catalogue, (a catalog of open cluster data, as compiled by Gosta Lynga, Lund Observatory), the magnitude distribution of the stars in NGC 6322 is large and the cluster contains between 50 and 100 stars. However, Lynga indicates that the cluster contains 30 members. This contradiction between the classification and the number of members is not uncommon in the Lynga catalogue. With a visual magnitude of 6.0, it is easy to observe with small binoculars. NGC 6322 is located about 1.1 degrees northeast of the star Eta Scorpii and 3.5 degrees northeast of Theta Scorpii.
Telescope: Planewave CDK17 (FR) f4.5
Mount: Astro Physics 1600GTO
Camera: QHY16200A/ Integral FW
Guider: Agena Starguide II / ZWO ASI178MM
Filters: Astronomik 36mm LRGB
L: 51×5 mins = 255 mins, R: 24×5 mins = 120 mins, G: 24×5 mins = 120 mins, B: 24×5 mins = 120 mins
Total Imaging Time: 10h 15m
Data Imaged remotely on 3 nights during June & July, 2025.
Imaged from Observatorio El Sauce, Chile, in partnership with Fred Espenak.
Data acquisition & Processing by David Churchill.
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