Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Puppis (Pup)  ·  Contains:  M 46  ·  NGC 2437  ·  NGC 2438
M46, Mike G.
M46
Powered byPixInsight

M46

M46, Mike G.
M46
Powered byPixInsight

M46

Equipment

Loading...

Acquisition details

Loading...

Description

Messier 46 (also known as M 46 or NGC 2437) is an open cluster in the constellation of Puppis. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1771. Dreyer described it as "very bright, very rich, very large." M46 is about 5,500 light-years away.[1] There are an estimated 500 stars in the cluster, and it is thought to be some 300 million years old.[2]

The planetary nebula NGC 2438 appears to lie within the cluster near its northern edge (the faint smudge at the top center of the image), but it is most likely unrelated since it does not share the cluster's radial velocity.[1][3] The case an example of a superimposed pair similar to that of NGC 2818.[1][4]

Comments

Sky plot

Sky plot

Histogram

M46, Mike G.