NGC 2808

Primary identifier: NGC 2808
Other identifiers: C 0911-646, GCl 13, ASA 032, Ben 41
Type: Globular cluster
Magnitude: 6.3 V
Diameter: 14'

RA: 09h 12m 03s
Dec: –64° 51' 46''
Constellation: Carina
Charts: U2000 448, MSA 2:1007, SA 25, Discover 04
Visibility: Nov-May

Historical observations: James Dunlop

James Dunlop discovered the globular cluster while observing from Paramatta, New South Wales, and included it as No. 265 in his catalogue of 1827. Using a 9-inch f/12 telescope, he described it as "a very bright round nebula, about 3' or 4' diameter, very gradually bright to the centre. This has a fine globular appearance."

Historical observations: John Herschel

Observed by Sir John Herschel at the Cape of Good Hope with an 18-inch f/13 speculum telescope. He recorded it as "globular cluster, extremely compressed pretty gradually very much brighter to the middle; up to a perfect blaze; diam. in RA = 26.8 seconds; stars of 16th magnitude; equal. R.A. doubtful; the mirror being in a spring case (afterwards disused)."

On the second occassion he described it as "globular cluster, 4' or 5' diameter first pretty gradually then pretty suddenly brighter to the middle; all resolved into stars 16 mag and a few 15 mag. A neat double star follows distance 1 field."

His next observation records it as a "superb globular cluster, diam = 5', very much compressed almost to a nipple. Stars innumerable and very small; 13..15 magnitude."

His final observation notes it as being "a truly beautiful and delicate globular cluster; diameter in RA = 45 seconds, that of the most compressed part 15 seconds; gradually very bright in the middle; all finely resolved into perfectly equal stars like the finest dust, which are seen with the left eye without effort, but the right requires to be somewhat strained to discern them. Runs up to a blaze in the centre."

Modern observations: E J Hartung

"In a fine field this beautiful object is a splendid example of the symmetrical strongly compressed type of globular cluster, composed of innumerable faint stars. It is about 5' across and a 6-inch will resolve it; to smaller apertures it is a bright nebulous haze with strong central condensation."

Contemporary observations

Observer: Magda Streicher

Date: 1997 April 05
Location: Campsite (23°16'S 29°26'E)
Instrument: Meade 8-inch SCT, 18mm super wide angle eyepiece

Sky conditions: 7 magnitude clear

Description: Remarkably large and round globular, with a compressed middle, which is very dense and packed with faint stars. Edges are slightly gaseous, with a few bright stars around this globular cluster in a not so busy starfield. I estimate this globular cluster about 6 magnitude in brightness.

Date: 1998 February 27
Location: Campsite (23°16'S 29°26'E)
Instrument: Meade 8-inch SCT, 26mm super plossl eyepiece

Sky conditions: 7 magnitude clear

Description: Faint, Compressed, round, large mottled globular with bright and faint stars. Very dense and bright core. Stars stretches out in a haze with bright stars in the field.

Observer: Constant Volschenk

Date: 2007 April 20, 22:33 SAST
Location: Ezemvelo Nature Reserve (25°42'S 28°57'E)
Instrument: Orion SkyQuest XT 10 IntelliScope, 9mm (133x) eyepiece

Sky conditions: Transparency: Partly Clear; Seeing: Mostly Stable

Description: Could hardly see cluster through finder scope, through telescope cluster seems to have a oval shape with very bright center, Can just resolve the outer stars.

Revisit cluster on 12 May 2007 from Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve(Heidelberg, GP), Used Orion Binocular Viewer at 266x, WOW, WOW the binocular viewer gives this cluster a 3D effect, much better seeing then at Ezemvelo, one of my best cluster seen (excluding omega Cen)