Observations of The Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC)

Kron 21

Andrew Murrell

Is a large open cluster 40 arc minutes Northeast of NGC 176.

It is fairly large being 1½-arc minutes in diameter with a fairly low surface brightness. 10" telescopes with medium power should show this cluster clearly. No central condensation could be seen and it appears to be not well detached from the background sky. Large telescopes will not resolve the cluster as the brightest stars are below 16th magnitude. The northern edge of the cluster appears to be flattened along an east west axis.

Max Gardner

Observed with an 18" f4.5 NGT. The cluster appeared as a very small faint unresolved haze slightly oval in shape. Kron 21 was difficult to observe with direct vision. There is a bright star of 11^th magnitude just west of the cluster.