About NGC 4609 (C98)

NGC 4609 is a rewarding deep-sky target and presents itself as a diffuse object. It has moderate brightness.

Current visibility

Right now it is at about 22° altitude and reaches 27° around 12:19 AM.

It does not reach a useful observing altitude today.

Observing conditions matter, contrast improves away from light pollution.

Observing tips

It requires patience and good conditions.

What to expect

With larger apertures, more structure becomes visible.

It is more subtle than brighter Dso objects.

Type

Open Cluster

Constellation

Crux

Distance

4200 ly

Size

Season

Spring

Difficulty

Easy

Magnitude

6.9