Omega Centauri

With the days getting longer and Omega Centauri (NGC 5139) culminating earlier, this is about the last chance to view the great globular cluster. I had never seen it but I had resolved to observe it this year. Having been foiled by cloud and light pollution I took the opportunity of today's cloudless albeit windy evening to go to the cliffs on the South of the island armed with a pair of binoculars. I arrived before 20:30 with culmination estimated to be at around 21:15. It was not yet dark with only Venus in the West and Jupiter in the East visible. As time passed the stars appeared; Arcturus overhead, Antares just to the West of Jupiter and Spica. The latter was important to me since Omega Centauri is to the South of it. By 21:15 the stars of Centaurus started to become visible low to the South. At first I could not see the cluster although I was sure of its position but at around 21:30 I observed it. Starhopping to it is easy. Menkent (theta Centauri) is a bright orange star almost directly south of Spica. Further South is phi Centauri which forms a distinctive triangle with mu and nu. Further South still is zeta Centauri, a +2.55 star. Omega Centauri is to the West of this star, the distance between mu and zeta being about the same as between zeta and omega. Next year I must take the telescope to view it better.

I also observed the other great globular M13 as a comparison, smaller but brighter because of its much greater altitude in the sky.