C94 · open cluster

Jewel Box

The Jewel Box is an open cluster in the constellation Crux, originally discovered by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in 1751–1752.

RA12h 53m 37sDec−60° 21' 22"

Image: ESO/Y. Beletsky. CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Identity & coordinates

Identification

Primary designation: C94
All designations: C94 · NGC 4755 · Jewel Box
Object type: Open Cluster
Constellation: Cru
Best viewing: Spring

Coordinates & physical

Right ascension (J2000): 12h 53m 37s
Declination (J2000): −60° 21' 22"
Apparent magnitude (V): —
Distance: —

III

Visibility tonight

The science

The Jewel Box is an open cluster in the constellation Crux, originally discovered by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in 1751–1752. This cluster was later named the Jewel Box by John Herschel when he described its telescopic appearance as "... a superb piece of fancy jewellery". It is easily visible to the naked eye as a hazy star some 1.0° southeast of the first-magnitude star Mimosa. This hazy star was given the Bayer star designation "Kappa Crucis", from which the cluster takes one of its common names. The modern designation Kappa Crucis has been assigned to one of the stars in the base of the A-shaped asterism of the cluster.

Summary adapted from Wikipedia · CC-BY-SA-4.0