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Catalogue and alternative designations

Westerlund 2, ESO 127-18

Type Open cluster
Position 10 23 58, --57 45 49
Constellation Vela
Camera and Telescope STXL16200 and 36.8 cm Ritchey Chretien
Focal Ratio F9
Exposure Details This is a HaRGB image with Hydrogen Alpha = 160 minutes, Red = Green = Blue = 60 minutes  All binned 2x2 and Astrodon filters were used.
Description Westerlund 2 is an obscured young compact star cluster and is the second member of the Westerlund 2 member catalogue. The distance is approxinately 20, 000 light years and the apparent magnitude is 10.5.  The prominent nebulosity is RCW 49.  Just off the frame at the bottom is 6th magnitude SAO 238031.