Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Monoceros (Mon)  ·  Contains:  NGC 2506
NGC2506  (In Monoceros), AlBroxton
NGC2506  (In Monoceros)
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NGC2506 (In Monoceros)

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Description

NGC2506 (also known as Caldwell 54) is an open cluster in the constellation Monoceros. It was discovered by William Herschel in 1791. Also known as Caldwell 54, this stellar group shines at magnitude 7.6 and measures 12' across.

Observation notes: Look for it in the far southeastern corner of Monoceros, 0.5 from that constellation’s border with Puppis and less than 3 from its Hydra border. From magnitude 3.9 Alpha (α) Monocerotis, move 4.8 east-southeast, and you’ll land on NGC 2506. Through a 4-inch telescope, this cluster’s stars all appear to be about the same brightness, but they have a wildly uneven distribution. Spread them out by using a magnification of 150x and you’ll see a clumpy center and lots of patterns: streamers, spiral “arms,” letters, and more. Move up to a 12-inch scope at a magnification of 200x, and the scene gets interesting. The same 30 or 40 stars you saw through the smaller aperture now hang before a background glow that glistens like a diamond-encrusted black velvet sheet. The gaps between twisting lines of stars also appear wider and darker.

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Revisions

  • NGC2506  (In Monoceros), AlBroxton
    Original
  • NGC2506  (In Monoceros), AlBroxton
    B
  • Final
    NGC2506  (In Monoceros), AlBroxton
    C

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NGC2506  (In Monoceros), AlBroxton