Caldwell 108 — Globular Cluster in Musca
NGC 4372
About C108
Description
NGC 4372 is a large, sparse globular cluster in Musca, about 18,900 light-years away. It spans about 19 arcminutes and appears partially obscured by the nearby dark nebula known as the Dark Doodad, creating a striking visual contrast.
Observing Tips
Visible as a faint, large, granular glow in a 6-inch telescope. Its sparse nature makes resolution relatively easy. The Dark Doodad nebula nearby adds visual interest to the field. Best from southern latitudes in autumn.
History
Discovered by James Dunlop on April 4, 1826 from Australia. The cluster is notable for its low concentration and large angular size, making it an easy target for resolution.
Fun Facts
The Dark Doodad, a narrow dark nebula about 3 degrees long, passes near NGC 4372 and makes for one of the more photogenic pairings of a globular cluster with a dark nebula in the southern sky.
Observe
1Properties
Position & Identifiers
2How easy to spot?
| Telescope | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 mm refractor 80mm refr. | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| 150 mm Newton 150mm Newt. | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm | Easy | Easy | Easy |
Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs
3Visibility
Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.
4
Eyepiece View
C108 · 12.0′ diameter · N up, E left
5
Best Magnification
6Metallicity
[Fe/H] = -2.17 — these stars formed from gas about 148× poorer in iron than the Sun.
7Concentration class
Shapley-Sawyer class V — moderately concentrated core.
Explore
8
Classification Decoder
Discover
9
Light Travel Time Machine
10
Relativistic Travel
Community Photos (1)
Credit: Donald Pelletier. License: CC BY-SA 4.0. (Wikimedia Commons)
Skybred Mar 2, 2026
Nearby in the Sky
Other targets within a few degrees — pan your scope a little and keep exploring.
Visibility scores assume a 150 mm Newton at Bortle 4.
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