The Caldwell Objects

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pizza. These strands
are probably what
James Dunlop saw as
"a large branch of very
small stars extended
on the north side [of
NGC 6231]." In a more
romantic sense the
association can be seen
as a diamond bracelet
laid on black velvet.
In the 4-inch at
23x NGC 6231 seduces
the eye with its
fantastic assortment of
some two dozen
"gemstones" of varying
quality and color
set in a 10'-wide
arrowhead. A bellshaped
mist of dim
suns seems to radiate
from behind. Attached
to the arrowhead's
northwestern corner is
a northeast-trending
shaft of six suns (with
magnitudes of roughly
7.5 to 9) that points to
Trumpler 24. Several
of these stars appear to
shine with a topaz
light. If
you follow the shaft for about 40' to the northeast
you'll see that it encounters a 6th-magni-tude
star. The line then curves west, dips sharply
south (nearly returning to NGC 6231), then loops
back north to end at the 5th-mag-nitude variable
star V973 Scorpii. Using my imagination this
wavy asterism looks like an inchworm on the
move. This may also be Tom
302
Lorenzin's "Baby Scorpion," which "clings to the
back of its mother's tail."
At medium and high powers the cluster is
most dramatic, taking on a three-dimensional
quality. The arrow's shaft seems to be tilted
toward us at a 45° angle. It looks as if tiny gems
are dripping from an unseen hand and falling
into a cache of overflowing jewels (namely
Deep-Sky Companions: The Caldwell Objects