Observations of The Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC)

NGC 242

Is a very interesting open cluster, 12½ arc minutes east of NGC 220.

The compact cluster is 25 arc seconds in diameter and has a very strong central condensation. It is fairly bright at 12.2 magnitude and should be visible in a 6" telescope. Surrounding the cluster is a scattering of 12th and 13th magnitude stars. Large telescopes may start to resolve the cluster but this scattering of stars makes it difficult to be certain. On the south-eastern edge of the cluster is another compact group of 15th magnitude stars. This second group is Se 3 another open cluster. This cluster should be visible in 12" scopes, and large scopes like my 20" show this double cluster very nicely.