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C82

NGC 6193

Open Cluster Showpiece (82/100)
C82 OpenCluster Ara Visible Level 1 Naked eye / Binoculars - Wide field preferred
Credit: Rbarba. License: CC BY 3.0. (Wikimedia Commons)
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Properties

Magnitude 5.2
Angular Size 8.1′
Distance 4300 ly
Open Cluster [Distance: 4300 ly]

Position & Identifiers

RA 16h 41m 21.4s
Dec -48° 45' 43.2"
Constellation Ara
Catalog C82

Visibility

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About C82

Description

NGC 6193 is a bright open cluster in Ara, about 4,200 light-years away. It contains about 30 stars dominated by two brilliant hot O-type stars that illuminate the nearby Rim Nebula (NGC 6188). The cluster spans about 15 arcminutes.

Observing Tips

An easy and attractive target in binoculars and small telescopes. The two bright central stars are striking. The associated Rim Nebula (NGC 6188) requires an OIII filter and larger aperture. Best in summer from southern locations.

History

Discovered by James Dunlop on June 2, 1826 from Australia. The cluster is the energy source powering the photogenic Rim Nebula, a sculpted wall of dark molecular cloud being eroded by radiation.

Fun Facts

The two brightest stars in NGC 6193 are among the most luminous known, each pumping out hundreds of thousands of times the Sun's luminosity. Their UV radiation is sculpting the nearby molecular cloud into dramatic pillar structures visible in deep images.

Community Photos (1)

Credit: Rbarba. License: CC BY 3.0. (Wikimedia Commons)

Credit: Rbarba. License: CC BY 3.0. (Wikimedia Commons)

Skybred Mar 2, 2026