DEEP-SKY OBJECTS

Scorpius is a treasure trove of deep-sky objects. Starting at Mu (+) Scorpii scroll 2.5° east to find the open star cluster NGC 6281 (RA 17h 04.7m, dec. –37° 59’; pictured). Its brightest (9th magnitude) stars are arranged in two curved lines meeting in a V shape. The rest of the letter is formed by dimmer stars making a triangular formation about 7 arcminutes across. The Bug Nebula, NGC 6302 (RA 17h 13.7m, dec. –37° 06’), is 2° east-northeast of NGC 6281. This famous mag. +9.7 planetary nebula offers much to the observer. It consists of a bright, condensed core with two broader faint extensions running to the east and west, both narrowing down close to the core giving the overall impression of a bow tie. The nebula is only around 1.5 arcminutes on its long axis.