The Caldwell Objects

404
102
gentle arc of suns, like a slightly upturned saber
glinting with dew. The second group lies to the
east, separated from the Theta Carinae grouping
by a 20'-wide lagoon of relative darkness, and it
looks either like a butterfly, an hourglass, or a
bow tie.
Before leaving the field, take the opportunity
to view yet another of this stunning region's
seemingly countless open clusters. Melotte 101
(R.A. 10 h 42.1 m ; Dec. -65° 06'), an 8th-magnitude
fog of stars spanning 13', lies 45' due south of
Theta Carinae. It is 10' east of V364 Carinae, a
roughly 5th-magnitude variable star. Lacaille, no
doubt, saw this star as his southern "Pleione,"
though unfortunately, it is not a true member of
either cluster. Visible in the lower-left corner of
my drawing, Melotte 101 contains about 40 faint
stars, the brightest of which shine around 11th
magnitude.
Deep-Sky Companions: The Caldwell Objects