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IC 2602 is a prominent open cluster in the southern constellation of Carina that was discovered by Abbe Lacaille in 1751 from South Africa. It contains about 60 stars spread across 50 arc minutes and is easily visible to the naked eye. The brightest member is blue-white Theta Carinae (θ Car), which shines at magnitude +2.74. Of the remaining constituents all are of fifth magnitude or fainter. When seen through binoculars and small scopes, IC 2602 is a stunning object and a superb example of its type.

IC 2602 is one of the brightest and closest open clusters to the Solar System. It's known as the "Theta Carinae Cluster" or "Southern Pleiades" and has a combined magnitude of +1.9. For comparison, IC 2602 is 70% fainter and about half the apparent size of its northern namesake, the Pleiades (M45).

IC 2602 (credit:- Roberto Mura)

Finder Chart for IC 2602 (credit:- freestarcharts)

Finder Chart for IC 2602 - pdf format (credit:- freestarcharts)

Through popular 7x50 or 10x50 binoculars this dazzling cluster appears large and bright. The standout star is of course θ Car, which is located towards the centre of the group and surrounded by dozens of fainter stars. The brightest members trace out a hat or rectangular type shape. The cluster is superbly seen in small / medium scopes especially at low powers where it fills the eyepiece view with many mostly blue-white stars. In larger scopes some of the awe is lost as it tends to overflow the field of view.

The Southern Pleiades is estimated to be 50 million years old with a spatial diameter of 7 light-years. It's about 480 light-years distant. Only the Hyades cluster (153 light-years), the Coma cluster (280 light-years) and M45 (425 light-years) are nearer to us. IC 2602 is best seen from southern latitudes during the months of February, March and April. For observers living north of latitude +26 degrees it never rises above the horizon.

IC 2602 Data Table

IC2602
Caldwell102
NameSouthern Pleiades
Object TypeOpen Cluster
ConstellationCarina
Distance (light-years)480
Apparent Mag.+1.9
RA (J2000)10h 42m 58s
DEC (J2000)-64d 23m 50s
Apparent Size (arc mins)50
Radius (light-years)3.5
Age (years)50 Million
Number of Stars60
Other NamesTheta Carinae Cluster, Collinder 229