The American Association of Amateur Astronomers
The Constellation Ara - The
Altar
Ara is one of the most northern of the southern constellations. Not visible from high northern latitudes, the
constellation of Ara lies just south of Scorpius, and begins to peek over the horizon
for observers in the southern United States. However, it fails to draw much
attention due to the lack of any major
deep sky objects, as well as its position low on the southern horizon.
Notice that the deep sky objects listed below are either globular clusters or open clusters. Since Ara is located
near the galactic center in Sagittarius, the globular clusters can be counted as part
of the galactic halo. The open clusters are part of the rich area of the Milky Way spilling off from Sagittarius
and Scorpius.
This constellation is one of the original Greek Constellations, and represents the altar the Greek gods erected
in recognition of their victory over the Titans.
Deep Sky Objects in Ara
The following objects are on the Astronomical League's Southern Sky Binocular List
Click
HERE to
download PDF
|
Object
|
R.A.
|
DEC
|
Mag
|
PA*
|
Type
|
Size
|
Constellation
|
Urn*
|
SA*
|
|
H 13
|
17 01.7
|
-48 06
|
9.0
|
|
Open Cluster
|
15.0'
|
Ara
|
407
|
22
|
|
IC 4651
|
17 24.7
|
-49 57
|
6.9
|
|
Open Cluster
|
12.0'
|
Ara
|
408
|
22
|
|
NGC 6208
|
16 49.5
|
-53 49
|
7.2
|
|
Open Cluster
|
15.0'
|
Ara
|
433
|
26
|
|
NGC 6352
|
17 25.5
|
-48 25
|
8.1
|
|
Globular Cluster
|
7.1'
|
Ara
|
408
|
22
|
|
NGC 6362
|
17 31.9
|
-67 03
|
8.3
|
|
Globular Cluster
|
10.7'
|
Ara
|
455
|
26
|
|
NGC 6397
|
17 40.7
|
-53 40
|
5.7
|
|
Globular Cluster
|
25.7'
|
Ara
|
434
|
26
|
NOTE: Urn number indicates page in Uranometria
SA number indicates page in Sky Atlas 2000
PA is position angle for Galaxies
Photos © Copyright Edward P. Flaspoehler, Jr.
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EDITOR: Edward P. Flaspoehler, Jr.
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