IC 2602

Template:Short description {{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template other IC 2602 (also known as the Southern Pleiades, Theta Carinae Cluster, or Caldwell 102)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> is an open cluster in the constellation Carina. Discovered by Abbe Lacaille in 1751 from South Africa,<ref name=Jones_1969>Template:Cite journal</ref> the cluster is easily visible to the unaided eye, and is one of the nearest star clusters, centred about 149 parsecs (486 light-years) away from Earth.

Description

IC 2602 has a total apparent magnitude of 1.9,<ref name="seds"/> and contains about 75 stars. It is the third-brightest open cluster in the sky, following the Hyades and the Pleiades. Its apparent diameter is about 50 arcminutes.

IC 2602 is likely about the same age as the open cluster IC 2391,<ref name="Staffer19972">Template:Cite journal,</ref> which has a lithium depletion boundary age of 50 million years old,<ref name="Barrado20022">Template:Cite journal</ref> though the age estimated from its Hertzsprung-Russell diagram is about 13.7 million years.<ref name="webda20172">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> IC 2602 is thought to form part of the Lower Scorpius–Centaurus association.<ref name="Whiteoak19612">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Blaauw19642">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Components

Theta Carinae is the brightest star within the open cluster, with the apparent visual magnitude of +2.74.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Theta Carinae is part of the asterism known as the Diamond Cross, which is often mistaken for the Southern Cross asterism in the constellation of Crux.

p Carinae (PP Carinae) is another third-magnitude star known to be a member of IC 2602, although it lies well outside the main visible grouping of stars. p Carinae exhibits a variable apparent magnitude ranging from 3.22 to 3.55.

All other members the cluster are of the fifth magnitude and fainter, but several are naked-eye objects, including HR 4196 (V518 Car), HR 4204, HD 93194, HR 4219, HR 4220, HR 4222, HD 92536, HD 93738, and V364 Carinae.

An exoplanet has been found orbiting the star TOI-837 in this cluster.<ref name="Bouma2020"/>

IC 2602 brightest stars

Designation	Apparent magnitude<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Stellar classification<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Distance (pc)
Theta Carinae	2.735	style="background:#Template:Color temperature;"|B0Vp	142<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
p Carinae (PP Carinae)	3.247	style="background:#Template:Color temperature;"|B4Vne	104.645<ref name=":0" />
HR 4204	5.719	style="background:#Template:Color temperature;"|B3IV/V	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Equated from parallax in milliarcseconds (mas).</ref>
HR 4219	5.297	style="background:#Template:Color temperature;"|B6Vnn	156.674<ref name=":0" />
HR 4222	4.807	style="background:#Template:Color temperature;"|B4V	154.007<ref name=":0" />
HD 92536	6.313	style="background:#Template:Color temperature;"|B8V	156.823<ref name=":0" />
HD 93194	4.777	style="background:#Template:Color temperature;"|B3/5Vn	169.146<ref name=":0" />
HD 93738	8.571	style="background:#Template:Color temperature;"|B9.5V	417.168<ref name=":0" />
V364 Carinae	5.465	style="background:#Template:Color temperature;"|ApSi	160.013<ref name=":0" />
V518 Carinae	4.758	style="background:#Template:Color temperature;"|B3V	140.634<ref name=":0" />

History

IC 2602 was first discovered by French astronomer and abbot Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille on March 3, 1751 while in Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In Lacaille's initial discovery, he classified Theta Carinae (referred as "Theta Navis", or alternatively "Theta Argus"Template:Citation needed) as a third magnitude star, whilst citing the cluster's resemblance to the northern Pleiades.

Observation

Positioned at a declination of -64º on the night sky,<ref name="ned2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> IC 2602 is most clearly visible from the southern hemisphere, and appears circumpolar from southern subtropics and temperate climates; the cluster is observable from a limited selection of north hemispherical regions, mainly tropical areas.Template:Efn IC 2602 is identifiable a few degrees south of the southern Milky Way, surrounded by various fifth and sixth magnitude stars. To the unaided eye, several faint stars are distinguishable to the east of the blue Theta Carinae.

External links

• The Southern Pleaides @ SEDS IC objects pages
• Image Southern Pleiades(IC 2602)