IC 2391

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IC 2391
Observation data (J2000.0 epoch)
Constellation Vela
Right ascension 08h 40.6m
Declination -53° 02′
Distance 1891.728 ly (580 pc)
Apparent magnitude (V) 2.5
Apparent dimensions (V) 50′
Other designations C 0838-528
See also: Open cluster, List of open clusters

IC 2391 (also known as the Omicron Velorum Cluster) is an open cluster in the constellation Vela. It has been purported to be first described by the Persian astronomer Al Sufi in about 964 A.D. It was also found by Abbe Lacaille and has been cataloged as Lac II 5. The cluster is at a distance of about 500 light-years away from Earth and can be seen with the naked eye. The cluster has a total visual magnitude of 2.5. The open cluster spans an area of sky of about 50 arcminutes, and contains about 30 stars. The cluster might be about the same age as the open cluster IC 2602[1], and have a lithium-depletion boundary age of about 50 million years old[2].

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[edit] References

  1. ^ Stauffer, J.R., et al. (1997). "Rotational Velocities and Chromospheric/Coronal Activity of Low-Mass Stars in the Young Open Clusters IC 2391 and IC 2602". Astrophysical Journal 479: 776. doi:10.1086/303930. 
  2. ^ Barrado y Navascues, D., Stauffer, J.R., & Jayawardhana, R. (2002). "Spectroscopy of Very Low Mass Stars and Brown Dwarfs in IC 2391: Lithium Depletion and Hα Emission". Astrophysical Journal 614: 386–397. doi:10.1086/423485. 
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