NGC 1986

NGC 1986, also known as the Spider Cluster, is a young open cluster located in the constellation Mensa, in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). It was discovered by James Dunlop in 1826.

The cluster is relatively small but dense and contains a significant number of hot, young stars. These stars are responsible for ionizing the surrounding gas, contributing to the emission nebula surrounding the cluster. While not as visually spectacular as some other LMC clusters, NGC 1986 provides valuable insights into the process of star formation and the evolution of young stellar populations in a different galactic environment compared to our own Milky Way. Its age is estimated to be around 20 million years. Study of the cluster's stars helps astronomers understand stellar evolution models and the initial mass function of stars in the LMC.