Centaurus Cluster (RCG 3526)

Although it is possible to observe the Centaurus Cluster from northern California, as you can see from Steve's observing notes, my best view by far was at the Texas Star Party a few years back. This is a large bright nearby (150 million light years) cluster that includes ten NGC galaxies within a one degree field. The brightest member is the 11th magnitude elliptical NGC 4696. Along with the IC4329 Cluster and Hydra I (AGC 1060), the Centaurus Cluster is part of the Hydra - Centaurus Supercluster.

Observing Notes by Steve Gottlieb

N4603 = E322-052 = M-07-26-028
12 40.9 -40 59
17.5: extremely faint, moderately large, round, very low surface brightness. Member of the Centaurus cluster. Forms a pair with N4601 5.3' NNW (not seen).

N4603A = E322-044 = M-07-26-020
12 39.6 -40 44
17.5: very faint, elongated E-W. Located 4.7' W of a bright unequal double star mag 9/13 at 23".

N4622 = E322-057 = M-07-26-031
12 42.6 -40 45
17.5: very faint, small, round, low fairly even surface brightness. Located within the Centaurus cluster with N4622 14' ENE. Forms a trio with N4616 7.3' NW and N4603D 7.3' SW (not seen).

N4622A = E322-IG64 = M-07-26-036
12 43.8 -40 43
17.5: very faint, very small, round. Two mag 13 stars at 50" separation oriented E-W follow (the closest is 1.2' SE of center). Forms a pair with N4650 5.8' ESE. This is a double galaxy. and member of the Centaurus cluster.

N4645 = E322-066 = M-07-26-037
12 44.2 -41 45
17.5: fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated, sharp concentration.

N4645A = M-07-026-032 = RN4645A = E322-059
12 43.1 -41 22
17.5: extremely faint, small, round, low surface brightness. A mag 11 star is at the S edge 1.0' SSE of center. Located 5.2' SW of mag 7.0 SAO 223625. N4645B lies 4.9' E.

N4645B = M-07-026-034 = E322-060
12 43.5 -41 22
17.5: fairly faint, oval ~E-W. Located 2.4' S of mag 7.0 SAO 223625. Bracketed by two mag 13.5 stars just 0.9' N and 1.1' SE of center. Forms a pair with N4645A 4.9' W.

N4650 = E322-067 = M-07-26-038
12 44.3 -40 44
17.5: very faint, small, oval SW-NE, bright core. Appears slightly brighter than N4622A 5.8' WNW. The unusual polar-ring galaxy N4650 lies 5.6' ENE (not recorded).

N4677 = E322-078 = M-07-26-044
12 47.0 -41 35
17.5: very faint, oval N-S, low even surface brightness.

N4696 = E322-091 = M-07-26-051
12 48.8 -41 19
17.5: brightest galaxy in the Centaurus cluster. Moderately bright, moderately large, oval WNW-ESE, brighter core. A mag 13.5 star is at the NW edge. N4709 lies 15' ESE and N4706 12' E.

N4706 = E323-001 = M-07-26-055
12 49.9 -41 17
17.5: very faint, small, oval SSW-NNE, low surface brightness. Located 6.4' NNW of N4709 and 12' ENE of brightest member N4696 in the central portion of the Centaurus cluster.

N4709 = E323-003 = M-07-26-056
12 50.1 -41 23
17.5: fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated ~E-W. Four mag 12-13 stars forming a parallelogram are roughly 4' NE. Located 15' ESE of N4696 within the Centaurus cluster. Forms a pair with M-07-26-057 1.2' SE (not seen).

N4729 = E323-016 = M-07-27-002 = A1248-40
12 51.8 -41 08
17.5: very faint, small, oval NW-SE. A mag 13 star is 1.0' N. Forms a close pair with N4730 2.8' ESE. Misidentified in the RNGC as E323-008.

N4730 = E323-017 = M-07-27-003
12 52.0 -41 09
17.5: very faint, small. A star lies off the S edge. Forms a close pair with N4749 2.8' WNW. Misidentified in the RNGC as E323-009.

N4743 = E323-021 = M-07-27-005
12 52.3 -41 23
17.5: very faint, small, elongated N-S. Located 15' S of N4729 and N4744 within the Centaurus cluster.

N4744 = E323-022 = M-07-27-006
12 52.3 -41 04
17.5: extremely faint, small, very low surface brightness. Third of three and located about 7' NE of the N4729/N4730 pair within the Centaurus cluster.

N4767 = E323-036 = M-06-28-023
12 53.9 -39 43
17.5: moderately bright, fairly small, oval NW-SE, bright core. Located 26' N of n Centauri (V = 4.3) in the Centaurus cluster.

N4832 = E323-051 = M-06-29-001
12 57.8 -39 46
17.5: fairly faint, small, oval NW-SE, bright core. Located 7.6' ENE of mag 8 SAO 203967.