NGC 2070

NGC 2070 (also known as Caldwell 103) is a large open cluster and candidate super star cluster forming the heart of the bright region in the centre-south-east of the Large Magellanic Cloud.^[2] This cluster was discovered by French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille in 1752.^[3] It is at the centre of the Tarantula Nebula and produces most of the energy that makes the latter's gas and dust visible. Its central condensation is the star cluster R136, one of the most energetic star clusters known.^[4] Among its stars are many of great dimension, including the second most massive star known, R136a1, at 215 M_☉ and 6.16 million L_☉.

Sky map position of NGC 2070 (green square)

NGC 2070
NGC 2070 (ESO) Credit: ESO/IDA/Danish 1.5 m/R. Gendler, C. C. Thöne, C. Féron, and J.-E. Ovaldsen
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Right ascension	05h 38m 42s[1]
Declination	−69° 06′ 00″[1]
Distance	157 kly (48.5 kpc)
Apparent magnitude (V)	7.25[1]
Apparent dimensions (V)	3.50′ × 3.50′
Physical characteristics
Other designations	Caldwell 103, PKS 0539-69
Associations
Constellation	Dorado
See also: Open cluster, List of open clusters

References

1. "NGC 2070". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
2. Shapley, H.; Lindsay, E. M. (1963). "A Catalogue of Clusters in The LMC". Irish Astronomical Journal. 6: 74. Bibcode:1963IrAJ....6...74S.
3. Jones, K. G. (March 1969). "The search for the nebulae - VI". Journal of the British Astronomical Association. 79: 213–222. Bibcode:1969JBAA...79..213J.
4. Bosch, Guillermo; Terlevich, Elena; Terlevich, Roberto (2009). "Gemini/GMOS Search for Massive Binaries in the Ionizing Cluster of 30 Dor". Astronomical Journal. 137 (2): 3437–3441. arXiv:0811.4748. Bibcode:2009AJ....137.3437B. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/137/2/3437. S2CID 17976455.

External links

• Media related to NGC 2070 at Wikimedia Commons
• "NGC 2070". SEDS Messier Database. 25 February 2008.