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The Messier list

                               MESSIER CATALOGUE
                                 (Epoch 2000.0)
                   Compiled by Darrell W. Green [72406,1736]

MESS   NGC   CON CL   R.A.   DEC   MAGv  DIAM.(') BUR         REMARKS
==== ======  === ==  ====== =====  ====  ======== === =========================

M  1   1952  Tau PN  0534.5 +2201   8.2  6x4      !!  SNR (1054) - Crab Nebula
M  2   7089  Aqr GC  2133.5 -0049   6.5  13       !!  II
M  3   5272  CVn GC  1342.2 +2823   6.4  16       !!! VI - superb object
M  4   6121  Sco GC  1623.6 -2632   5.9  26        *  IX
M  5   5904  Ser GC  1518.6 +0205   5.8  17       !!  V - superb cluster
M  6   6405  Sco OC  1740.1 -3213   4.2  15       !!  n: 80 - Butterfly Cluster
M  7   6475  Sco OC  1753.9 -3449   3.3  80       !!  nmbr:80-fine naked-eye OC
M  8   6523  Sgr DN  1803.8 -2423   6.8  80x40    !!! spec: O7e - Lagoon Nebula
M  9   6333  Oph GC  1719.2 -1831   7.9  2.4       *  VIII
M 10   6254  Oph GC  1657.1 -0406   6.6  8.2      !   VII
M 11   6705  Sct OC  1851.1 -0616   5.8  14       !   n:200 - Wild Duck Cluster
M 12   6218  Oph GC  1647.2 -0157   6.6  9.3      !!  IX
M 13   6205  Her GC  1641.7 +3628   5.9  10       !!  V - Hercules Cluster
M 14   6402  Oph GC  1737.6 -0315   7.6  3         *
M 15   7078  Peg GC  2130.0 +1210   6.4  7.4      !   IV - fine object
M 16   6611  Ser DN  1818.8 -1347   6.4  25       !!  neb and clust- Eagle Nebula
M 17   6618  Sgr DN  1820.8 -1611   7.5  46x37    !!  Swan or Omega Nebula
M 18   6613  Sgr OC  1819.9 -1708   6.9  9         *  number: 20
M 19   6273  Oph GC  1702.6 -2616   7.2  4.3       *  VIII
M 20   6514  Sgr DN  1802.6 -2302   9.0  29x27    !!  spec: O7 - Trifid Nebula
M 21   6531  Sgr OC  1804.6 -2230   5.9  13        *  number: 70 - M20 in field
M 22   6656  Sgr GC  1836.4 -2354   5.1  17.3     !!  VII - one of finest GCs
M 23   6494  Sgr OC  1756.8 -1901   5.5  27        *  number: 150
M 24   6603  Sgr OC  1816.9 -1829   4.6  4         *  number: 50 - star cloud
M 25 IC4725  Sgr OC  1831.6 -1915   4.6  32        *  number: 30 - open cloud
M 26   6694  Sct OC  1845.2 -0924   8.0  15        *  number: 30
M 27   6853  Vul PN  1959.6 +2243   7.6  8x4      !!  Dumbbell Nebula
M 28   6626  Sgr GC  1824.5 -2452   6.9  6        !   IV
M 29   6913  Cyg OC  2023.9 +3832   6.6  7         *  number: 50
M 30   7099  Cap GC  2140.4 -2311   7.5  5.7      !   V
M 31    224  And SG  0042.7 +4116   4.8  160x40   !!! Sb - Andromeda Galaxy
M 32    221  And EG  0042.7 +4052   8.7  3.6x3.1   *  E0 - companion of M31
M 33    598  Tri SG  0133.9 +3039   6.3  60x35    !!  Sc - Pinwheel Galaxy
M 34   1039  Per OC  0242.0 +4247   5.5  35        *  number: 60
M 35   2168  Gem OC  0608.9 +2420   5.3  28        *  number: 200
M 36   1960  Aur OC  0536.1 +3408   6.0  12        *  number: 60
M 37   2099  Aur OC  0552.4 +3233   5.6  24       !   number: 150
M 38   1912  Aur OC  0528.7 +3550   6.4  21        *  number: 100
M 39   7092  Cyg OC  2132.2 +4826   4.6  32        *  number: 30
M 40 WNC  4  UMa DS  1222.4 +5805   9.1  50"       *  Winnnecke 4 - sep. 50"
M 41   2287  CMa OC  0647.0 -2044   4.6  38        *  number: 80
M 42   1976  Ori DN  0535.4 -0527   2.9  66x60    !!! Great Orion Nebula
M 43   1982  Ori DN  0535.6 -0516   6.9  20x15     *  detached portion of M42
M 44   2632  Cnc OC  0840.1 +1959   3.1  95       !!  Praesepe - Beehive Clustr
M 45         Tau OC  0347.0 +2407   1.2  110       *  nmber: 130 - The Pleiades
M 46   2437  Pup OC  0741.8 -1449  6.10  27       !   n:100 - NGC 2438 in field
M 47   2422  Pup OC  0736.6 -1430   4.5  30        *  number: 30
M 48   2548  Hya OC  0813.8 -0548   5.8  54        *  number: 80
M 49   4472  Vir EG  1229.8 +0800   8.4  4.0x3.4   *  E4
M 50   2323  Mon OC  0703.2 -0820   5.9  10.0x5.5  *  number: 80
M 51   5194  CVn SG  1329.9 +4712   8.4  10.0x5.5 !!  Sc - Whirlpool Galaxy
M 52   7654  Cas OC  2324.2 +6135   6.9  13        *  number: 100
M 53   5024  Com GC  1312.9 +1810   7.7  3.3       *  V
M 54   6715  Sgr GC  1855.1 -3029   7.7  6         *  III
M 55   6809  Sgr GC  1940.0 -3058   7.0  15        *  XI
M 56   6779  Lyr GC  1916.6 +3011   8.3  1.8       *  X
M 57   6720  Lyr PN  1853.6 +3302   9.3  1.3x1    !!  cnt str:15 - Ring Nebula
M 58   4579  Vir SG  1237.7 +1149   9.8  4.0x3.5   *  Sb - fine compact spiral
M 59   4621  Vir EG  1242.0 +1139   9.8  2.0x1.8   *  E3
M 60   4649  Vir EG  1243.7 +1133   8.8  3.0x2.5   *  E1 - NGC 4647 in field
M 61   4303  Vir SG  1221.9 +0428   9.7  5.7x5.5   *  Sc - large face-on spiral
M 62   6266  Oph GC  1701.2 -3007   6.6  4.3       *  IV - Burnham's under Sco
M 63   5055  CVn SG  1315.8 +4202   8.6  10x5      *  Sb - Sunflower Nebula
M 64   4826  Com SG  1256.7 +2141   8.5  7.8x1.5  !   Sb - Black-Eye Galaxy
M 65   3623  Leo SG  1118.9 +1305   9.3  8.0x2.5   *  Sb -M66, NGC3628 in field
M 66   3627  Leo SG  1120.2 +1259   9.0  8.0x2.5   *  Sb -M65, NGC3628 in field
M 67   2682  Cnc OC  0850.4 +1149   6.9  30       !   nmbr:200 - interesting OC
M 68   4590  Hya GC  1239.5 -2645   8.2  2.8       *  X
M 69   6637  Sgr GC  1831.4 -3221   7.7  2.5       *  V
M 70   6681  Sgr GC  1843.2 -3218   8.1  4         *  V
M 71   6838  Sge GC  1953.8 +1847   8.3  6.1       *  class not certain
M 72   6981  Aqr GC  2053.5 -1232   9.4  2.0       *  IX
M 73   6994  Aqr OC  2058.9 -1238   9.0  2.8       *  asterism of 4 stars
M 74    628  Psc SG  0136.7 +1547   9.2  9.0x9.0   *  Sc - fine face-on spiral
M 75   6864  Sgr GC  2006.1 -2155   8.6  1.9       *  I - near Cap border
M 76    650  Per PN  0142.4 +5134  12.2  140x70    *  cnt str:17-Little Dumbell
M 77   1068  Cet SG  0242.7 -0001   8.9  6x5       *  Sbp - Seyfert glx.(3C 71)
M 78   2068  Ori DN  0546.7 +0003  10.5  8x6       *  spec: B8 - comet shaped
M 79   1904  Lep GC  0524.5 -2433   8.4  3.2       *  V
M 80   6093  Sco GC  1617.0 -2259   7.2  3.3       *  II -incl Nova T Sco(1860)
M 81   3031  UMa SG  0955.6 +6904   6.9  18x10    !   Sb - fine spiral
M 82   3034  UMa IG  0955.8 +6941   8.4  8x3      !   Pec - fine pair with M81
M 83   5236  Hya SG  1337.0 -2952   8.2  10x8     !   Sc
M 84   4374  Vir EG  1225.1 +1253   9.3  2.0x1.8   *  E1 - center Virgo Cluster
M 85   4382  Com EG  1225.4 +1811   9.3  2.1x1.7   *  Ep
M 86   4406  Vir EG  1226.2 +1257   9.2  3x2       *  E3 - center Virgo Cluster
M 87   4486  Vir EG  1230.8 +1224   8.6  3x3       *  E1 - X-ray and radio source
M 88   4501  Com SG  1232.0 +1425   9.5  5.5x2.4   *  Sb - multiple-arm spiral
M 89   4552  Vir EG  1235.7 +1233   9.8  2x2       *  E0 - bright, round
M 90   4569  Vir SG  1236.8 +1310   9.5  7.0x2.5   *  Sb - well formed oval
M 91   4548  Com SG  1235.4 +1430  10.2  3.7x3.2   *  SBb- barred spiral galaxy
M 92   6341  Her GC  1717.1 +4308   6.5  8.3       *  IV
M 93   2447  Pup OC  0744.6 -2352   6.2  22        *  number: 80
M 94   4736  CVn SG  1250.9 +4107   8.2  5.0x3.5   *  Sbp
M 95   3351  Leo SG  1044.0 +1142   9.7  6.1x3.9   *  S(B)b - theta structure
M 96   3368  Leo SG  1046.8 +1149   9.1  5x4       *  Sbp - pair with M95
M 97   3587  UMa PN  1114.8 +5501  12.0  3.4x3.0  !   cnt str m:14 - Owl Nebula
M 98   4192  Com SG  1213.8 +1454  10.1  8.4x1.9   *  Sb-knotty, bright spindle
M 99   4254  Com SG  1218.8 +1425   9.8  4.6x3.9  !   Sc
M100   4321  Com SG  1222.9 +1549   9.4  5.3x4.5  !   Sc - fine spiral
M101   5457  UMa SG  1403.2 +5421   7.7  22x20     *  Sc-splendid large face-on
M102   5457  UMa SG  1403.2 +5421   7.7  22x20     *  Sc - Same as M101
M103    581  Cas OC  0133.2 +6042   7.4  5         *  nmbr: 25 -arrowhead shape
M104   4594  Vir SG  1240.0 -1137   8.3  7.0x1.5  !   Sb - Sombrero Galaxy
M105   3379  Leo EG  1047.8 +1235   9.2  2.2x2.0      E1 -group with 3384, 3389
M106   4258  CVn SG  1219.0 +4718   8.3  18.2x7.0 !   Sbp
M107   6171  Oph GC  1632.5 -1303   8.1  2.2          X
M108   3556  UMa SG  1111.5 +5540  10.1  7.7x1.3   *  Sc - edge-on/M97 in field
M109   3992  UMa SG  1157.6 +5323   9.8  6.2x3.5      SBb -barred spiral galaxy
M110    205  And EG  0040.4 +4141   9.4  8.0x3.0      E6 - companion of M31

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Deep Sky Web Sites and PC software Links

The list of Deep Sky Objects has been removed from this Section In it's place I offer two more comprehensive Web sites on the subject of Deep Sky Observing. The first is the Saguaro Astronomy Club (SAC) on-line news letter. It contains many fine article on observing. Their URL is on the Home Page. The second is a newer site I have discovered recently. A very useful site for the observer to find, download, observing list and reports of NGC and IC catalogs. The next three sites have been found recently, the Hawaii Astro site is one of my favorites for deep sky amd more. Vargas's links to many of the on-line catalogs used by the astronomical community. To avoid listing the many astronomical software I refer to the information complied on the SEDS web page. Within each are many more Links to other sites. Good hunting.

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How to estimate the magnitude of a star

Estimating the Magnitude of a Star

FRACTIONAL METHOD

Two comparison stars are choosen, one a little brigther than the variable and the other slightly fainter. The brightness of the variable is then mentally estimated as a fraction of the interval betwen the two comparison stars. To do this , the observer divides the interval into a equal number of parts, for example 2, 3, 4, 5 or 10 and estimate the number of these parts by which the variable is fainter one star and brighter than the other.

There is no need at this stage to know the magnitudes of the comparison stars, this comes later when the light estiamte is converted into the deduced magnitude.

EXAMPLE Two stars are choosen designated A and B , A being the brighter of the two. The number of parts into which the interval has been divided is FOUR. Then , if the variable appears to be ONE part fainter than A and THREE parts brighter than B, the record would be wriitten as :

A(1) v (3) B

The letter " v " represents the variable.

Deducing the Magnitude from the Light Estimate

A(1) v (3) B

A = 8.44 B = 8.93 Interval between them is 0.49 magnitude.

Each fraction is therefor 0.12 magnitude.

A + 1(0.12) = 8.56

B - 3(0.12) = 8.56 (rounded)

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Don Murray's Gathering of Double Stars

Star Name

R A

Dec

ADS#

Mags

Sep

P A

Map

Notes

And

And, 59

02h 10.9m

+39 02

1683

6.1 - 6.8

16.3

35

4

White & reddish.

And, Gamma

02h 03.9m

+42 20

1630

2.1 - 4.8

9.8

64

4

Yellow - Orange & Greenish - blue. "Almach"

And, STF 108

01h 18.8m

+37 23

1055

6.4 - 9.2

6.2

62

4

Pale yellow & reddish.

And, STF 24

00h 18.4m

+26 08

252

7.6 - 8.4

5.2

248

4

Both white.

And, STF 3050

23h 59.5m

+33 43

17149

6.6 - 6.6

1.9

335

4

Both yellow.

And, STF 79

01h 00.1m

+44 43

824

5.7 - 6.6

8.3

192

4

Yellow & bluish.

Aql

Aql, 23 AB

19h 18.5m

+01 05

12289

5.3 - 9.3

3.1

5

16

Yellow & greenish.

Aql, 52 - Pi

19h 48.7m

+11 49

12962

6.1 - 6.9

1.4

110

16

Both white. Nice.

Aql, 57

19h 54.6m

- 08 14

13087

5.8 - 6.5

35.7

170

16

Both white.

Aql, STF 2379

18h 46.5m

- 00 58

11667

5.9 - 7.5

12.6

16

16

Both white.

Aql, STF 2404

18h 50.8m

+10 59

11750

6.4 - 7.4

3.5

181

16

Yellow & yellow - orange.

Aql, STF 2449

19h 06.4m

+07 09

12037

6.7 - 7.4

8.1

29

16

Aql, STF 2613

20h 01.4m

+10 45

13256

7.0 - 7.5

3.7

364

16

Both yellow.

Aql, STF 2628

20h 07.8m

+09 24

13403

6.4 - 8.9

3.3

340

16

Yellow & reddish.

Aql, STF 2644

20h 12.6m

+00 52

13506

6.3 - 6.4

2.7

207

16

Both yellow.

Aqr

Aqr, 107, H II 24

23h 46.0m

- 18 41

16979

5.7 - 6.7

6.6

136

17

White & bluish. Nice.

Aqr, 12, STF 2745

21h 04.1m

- 05 49

14592

5.9 - 7.3

2.8

192

17

Yellow & blue. Nice.

Aqr, 29, S 802 AB

22h 02.4m

- 16 58

15562

7.2 - 7.4

3.7

244

17

Both yellow.

Aqr, 41, H N 56 AB

22h 14.3m

- 21 04

15753

5.6 - 7.1

5.0

114

23

Yellow & blue. Nice.

Aqr, 53, h 345 AB

22h 26.6m

- 16 45

15934

5.6 - 5.7

1.7

5

17

Both whit.

Aqr, 55 - Zeta

22h 28.8m

- 00 01

15971

4.3 - 4.5

2.1

190

17

Both yellowish. Very nice.

Aqr, 94, STF 2998

23h 19.2m

- 13 28

16672

5.3 - 7.3

12.7

350

17

Yellow & bluish - green.

Aqr, S 808

22h 25.8m

- 20 14

15926

6.7 - 7.7

6.8

153

23

White & reddish.

Aqr, STF 2744 AB

21h 03.1m

+01 32

14573

6.2 - 6.8

1.3

118

17

Yellow & reddish.

Aqr, STF 2935 AB

22h 43.1m

- 08 19

16208

6.5 - 7.6

2.7

307

17

Yellow & blue.

Aqr, STF 2944 AB

22h 47.8m

- 04 14

16270

6.7 - 7.0

2.1

294

17

Yellow pair.

Aqr, STF 2988

23h 12.0m

- 11 56

16579

7.8 - 7.8

3.6

279

17

Both yellow.

Aqr, STF 3008

23h 23.8m

- 08 28

16725

6.7 - 7.3

5.6

156

17

Yellow & blue.

Ari

Ari, 30

02h 37.0m

+24 39

1982

6.6 - 7.4

38.6

274

4

Yellow pair.

Ari, 33

02h 40.7m

+27 04

2033

5.5 - 8.4

28.6

0

4

Yellow & blue.

Ari, 42 - Pi

02h 49.3m

+17 28

2151

5.3 - 8.4

3.3

119

4

White & gray.

Ari, 48 - Epsilon

02h 59.2m

+21 20

2257

4.6 - 5.0

1.4

209

4

Both white.

Ari, 5 - Gamma

01h 53.5m

+19 18

1507

3.9 - 4.0

7.7

360

4

Both white.

Ari, 9 - Lambda

01h 57.9m

+23 36

1563

4.9 - 7.7

37.4

46

4

Yellowish - white & blue.

Ari, STF 174

01h 50.1m

+22 17

1457

5.8 - 6.3

2.8

165

4

Yellow & bluish.

Ari, STF 208

02h 03.7m

+25 56

1631

5.6 - 7.7

1.3

335

4

White & blue. Nice.

Ari, STF 394

03h 28.0m

+20 20

2546

7.1 - 8.1

6.8

162

4

Pale yellow & bluish.

Aur

Aur, 37 - Theta

05h 59.7m

+37 13

4566

2.7 - 7.1

3.6

313

5

White & bluish.

Aur, 4 - Omega

04h 59.3m

+37 53

3572

5.0 - 8.0

5.4

359

5

Pale yellow & orange.

Aur, 56 - Psi

06h 46.7m

+43 35

5425

5.3 - 8.3

36.2

31

5

Yellow & blue.

Aur, STF 644 AB

05h 10.3m

+37 18

3734

6.7 - 7.0

1.6

221

5

Yellowish & pale blue.

Boo

Boo, 17 - Kappa

14h 13.5m

+51 47

9173

4.6 - 6.6

13.8

236

7

White & bluish.

Boo, 21 - Iota

14h 16.2m

+51 22

9198

4.9 - 7.5

38.5

33

7

Yellowish & bluish.

Boo, 29 - Pi

14h 40.7m

+16 25

9338

4.9 - 5.8

5.6

108

7

Both white. Nice.

Boo, 30 - Zeta AB

14h 41.1m

+13 44

9343

4.5 - 4.6

0.8

299

14

Both yellowish - white.

Boo, 36 - Epsilon

14h 45.0m

+27 04

9372

2.5 - 4.9

2.8

339

7

Gold & Greenish blue. First class. "Izar"

Boo, 37 - Xi

14h 51.4m

+19 06

9413

4.7 - 6.9

6.6

318

7

Yellow & red - orange.

Boo, 39

14h 49.6m

+48 43

9406

6.2 - 6.9

2.9

45

7

Yellow & yellowish - white.

Boo, 44

15h 03.9m

+47 39

9494

5.3 - 6.2

2.2

52

7

Yellow pair.

Boo, STF 1825

14h 16.4m

+20 07

9192

6.5 - 8.2

4.4

163

7

Yellow & orange.

Boo, STF 1910

15h 07.5m

+09 14

9507

7.5 - 7.5

4.3

211

14

Yellow pair.

C Ma

C Ma, h 3945

07h 16.6m

- 23 19

5951

4.8 - 6.8

26.6

55

19

Yellow & blue. Very nice.

Cam

Cam, 1 STF 550

04h 32.0m

+53 55

3274

5.8 - 6.9

10.5

309

5

White & pale blue. Nice.

Cam, 2

04h 40.0m

+53 28

3358

5.8 - 7.3

1.3

258

5

Cap

Cap, 10 - Pi AB

20h 27.3m

- 18 13

13860

5.1 - 8.3

3.4

147

16

Yellow & bluish.

Cap, 12 - Omicron

20h 29.9m

- 18 35

13902

6.0 - 6.7

22

193

16

Yellow & bluish white.

Cap, 9 - Beta

20h 21.0m

- 14 47

?

3.4 - 6.2

205

267

16

Brilliant yellow & white.

Cas

Cas, 6

23h 48.8m

+62 13

17022

5.5 - 8.0

1.3

193

1

Yellow & orange.

Cas, 8 - Sigma

23h 59.0m

+55 45

17140

4.9 - 7.2

3.2

337

1

Yellowish & bluish - green.

Cas, Eta - STF 60

00h 49.1m

+57 49

671

3.5 - 7.2

13

317

1

Yellow & reddish.

Cas, Iota AB

02h 29.1m

+67 24

1860

4.5 - 6.9

2.7

230

1

Triple. Yellowish & blue.

Cas, Iota AC

02h 29.1m

- 8.4

7.2

114

1

Blue.

Cas, STF 163 AB

01h 51.3m

+64 51

1459

6.8 - 8.8

34.8

35

1

Orange & blue.

Cas, STF 3053 AB

00h 02.6m

+66 06

1

5.9 - 7.3

15.1

70

1

Yellowish & white.

Cas, STF 3057

00h 04.9m

+58 32

36

6.6 - 8.7

3.7

299

1

White & bluish.

Cas, STF 3062

00h 06.3m

+59 26

61

6.4 - 7.2

1.2

235

1

Yellowish & bluish.

Cas, STF 65

00h 52.7m

+68 52

710

7.2 - 7.2

3

39

1

Both yellow.

Cep

Cep, 17 - Xi

22h 03.8m

+64 38

15600

4.4 - 6.5

7.7

277

3

Yellow - white & yellow.

Cep, 27 - Delta

22h 29.2m

+58 25

15987

3.4 - 7.5

41

191

3

Yellow & blue.

Cep, 34 - Omicron

23h 18.6m

+68 07

16666

4.9 - 7.1

2.8

223

3

Yellow & blue.

Cep, 8 - Beta

21h 21.7m

+70 34

15032

3.2 - 7.9

13.3

249

3

Yellow - white & blue.

Cep, STF 2751

21h 02.1m

+56 40

14575

5.8 - 6.5

1.6

355

8

Cep, STF 2840 AB

21H 52.0M

+55 48

15405

5.7 - 6.6

18.1

196

3

White & bluish.

Cep, STF 2903

22h 21.8m

+66 42

15881

6.6 - 7.3

4.1

96

3

Both yellow.

Cet

Cet, 26

01h 03.8m

+01 22

875

6.2 - 8.6

16

253

10

Yellow & lilac.

Cet, 66 - STF 231

02h 12.8m

- 02 24

1703

5.6 - 7.6

16.6

234

10

Yellow & violet.

Cet, 86 - Gamma

02h 43.3m

+03 14

2080

3.5 - 7.4

2.6

296

10

White & yellow.

Cet, 95 - AC 2

03h 18.4m

- 00 56

2459

5.6 - 8.0

1.3

255

10

Cet, STF 186

01h 55.9m

+01 51

1538

6.8 - 6.8

1.3

57

10

Matched yellow close pair.

Cnc

Cnc, 16 - Zeta AC

08h 12.2m

+17 39

6650

5.6 - 6.0

6.0

72

6

Both yellow.

Cnc, 23 - Phi2 AB

08h 26.8m

+26 56

6815

6.4 - 6.3

5.0

217

6

White headlight.

Cnc, 48 - Iota1

08h 46.7m

+28 46

6988

4.2 - 6.6

30.5

307

6

Yellow & blue.

Cnc, 57 - Iota2

08h 54.2m

+30 35

7071

6.0 - 6.5

1.4

316

6

Yellow & blue.

Com

Com, 2

21h 04.3m

+21 28

8406

5.9 - 7.4

3.7