NGC 3766 (also known as Caldwell 97) is an open star cluster in the southern constellation Centaurus. It is located in the vast star-forming region known as the Carina molecular cloud, and was discovered by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille during his astrometric survey in 1751–1752.[2] At a distance of about 1745 pc,[3] the cluster subtends a diameter of about 12 minutes of arc.[4]
There are 137 listed stars, but many are likely non-members, with only 36 having accurate photometric data.[5] It has a total apparent magnitude of 5.3 and integrated spectral type of B1.7.[3] NGC 3766 is relatively young, with an estimated age of log (7.160) or 14.4 million years,[4] and is approaching us at 14.8 km/s.[3] This cluster contains eleven Be stars, two red supergiants and four Ap stars.[5]
36 examples of an unusual type of variable star were discovered in the cluster. These fast-rotating pulsating B-type stars vary by only a few hundredths of a magnitude with periods less than half a day. They are main sequence stars, hotter than δ Scuti variables and cooler than slowly pulsating B stars.[6]
^"New Kind of Variable Star Discovered". ESO Press Release. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
^Jones, K. G. (March 1969). "The search for the nebulae - VI". Journal of the British Astronomical Association. 79: 213–222. Bibcode:1969JBAA...79..213J.
^ ab"WEBDA Astronomical Database". WEBDA Page for NGC 3766. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
^ ab"Webda Astronomical Database". WEBDA Page for NGC 3766a. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
^Saio, H; Ekström, S; Mowlavi, N; Georgy, C; Saesen, S; Eggenberger, P; Semaan, T; Salmon, S. J. A. J (2017). "Period–luminosity relations of fast-rotating B-type stars in the young open cluster NGC 3766". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 467 (4): 3864. arXiv:1702.02306. Bibcode:2017MNRAS.467.3864S. doi:10.1093/mnras/stx346.
External links
Media related to NGC 3766 at Wikimedia Commons
NGC 3766 at SEDS
Astrophotograph Link
WEBDA Data on NGC 3766 by Lynga
NGC 3766 on WikiSky: DSS2, SDSS, GALEX, IRAS, Hydrogen α, X-Ray, Astrophoto, Sky Map, Articles and images
Media related to NGC 3766 at Wikimedia Commons
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