Caldwell 84 — Globular Cluster in Centaurus
NGC 5286
About C84
Description
NGC 5286 is a bright globular cluster in Centaurus, about 35,900 light-years away. It is a moderately concentrated cluster spanning about 9 arcminutes with an integrated magnitude of 7.6, located near the star M Centauri.
Observing Tips
Visible as a bright, round glow in a 4-inch telescope. An 8-inch scope begins to resolve the outer halo into individual stars. Located conveniently near the naked-eye star M Centauri for easy finding. Best in spring and summer from southern locations.
History
Discovered by James Dunlop on May 7, 1826 from Australia. The cluster has been studied for its multiple stellar populations, which hint at a complex formation history.
Fun Facts
NGC 5286 may be another example of a globular cluster that originated as the nucleus of a small dwarf galaxy, based on its chemical abundance patterns that differ from typical Milky Way globulars.
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
5
Best Magnification
6Metallicity
[Fe/H] = -1.69 — these stars formed from gas about 49× 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: Own work. License: CC BY-SA 3.0. (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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