Observations of The Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC)

NGC 290

Moving east from NGC 261, through the star cloud, about 45 arc minutes is this fairly bright open cluster.

This cluster is compact being about 1½-arc minutes in diameter. It is roughly round in shape and the outer regions of the cluster seem to partly resolve. A slight condensation could be seen toward the nucleus. The individual stars glimpsed would be around 15th magnitude. The cluster is sharply defined against the background sky, which is quite bright. No nebulosity is mentioned in association with this cluster but observations show that the cluster has a brightening in the 0III on the northern edge. It is very small being only 10 arc seconds in diameter (if that) and appears brighter than the entire cluster. Due to its compact size and high surface brightness, this cluster should be visible at high power in a 6-inch telescope. The RNGC lists this object at 12th magnitude, and gives no description.