Next time you're admiring the majestic profile of M22, slew your telescope about 6 degrees due north for a look at NGC 6645. This 8.5 magnitude open cluster is featured in the sketch at left, which renders the view in my 10-inch Newtonian at 165X. NGC 6645 is nearly centered and ranges over an area approximately 10' across. About 35 members are shown in the sketch, most gathered southwest of center. The brightest of these shine at 10th and 11th magnitude. Of the surrounding field stars, the most prominent are a triangular grouping of 9th and 10th magnitude near the western field boundary. Another 20 stars complete the framework. |