NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 4609 13.1" (2/20/04 - Costa Rica): at 166x, 30 stars mag 9.5-13 are resolved resolved in a 4'-5' region. Most of the stars are arranged in a curving lane ~NNW-SSE with fainter stars trailing off to the NNW. A few stars are scattered to the east of this string which is oriented roughly N-S and which bends towards the east on the north side. The cluster includes some doubles and triples with a nice mag 10.5 star pair at 15" and a distinctive triple on the south end of the lane. Situtated just 7' NW of mag 5.3 BZ Crucis = HD 110432. This star is located within the Coal Sack, 1.8 degrees east of Acrux, and is the only easy naked-eye star with the Coal Sack! The cluster resides behind the Coal Sack and is dimmed accordingly.