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Proper NameNone
Messier NumberNone
NGC/IC NumberNone
Other DesignationsCollinder 240
ConstellationCarina
Right Ascension11h 11m 40s
Declination-60° 18' 35"
Distancec. 5,100 light years
c. 1,600 parsecs
MagnitudeApparent: +3.90
Absolute: -7.09
DiameterApparent: 32'
Actual: 47.9 light years
Optimum VisibilityMarch / April (usually visible from southern latitudes)

Collinder 240 is an extensive open cluster set against the clouds extending eastward from the Eta Carinae Nebula. The broad span of this region of the sky contains areas of more concentrated stars, and these are designated as further clusters in their own right: Collinder 239 to the northwest, and Trumpler 18 to the south. The bright star dominating the cluster - seen here to the east (left) of centre - is its most luminous member, the supergiant y Carinae. Imagery provided by Aladin sky atlas

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