Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Puppis (Pup)  ·  Contains:  M 46  ·  NGC 2437  ·  NGC 2438
M46 and NGC 2438, Steven Bellavia
M46 and NGC 2438
Powered byPixInsight

M46 and NGC 2438

M46 and NGC 2438, Steven Bellavia
M46 and NGC 2438
Powered byPixInsight

M46 and NGC 2438

Equipment

Loading...

Acquisition details

Loading...

Description

Messier 46 is an open cluster of stars 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 4,900 light-years away. There are an estimated 500 stars in the cluster with a combined mass of 450 solar masses, and it is thought to be some 250 million years old.

NGC 2438. a planetary nebula, appears to lie within the cluster near its northern edge, but it is most likely unrelated since it does not share the cluster's radial velocity.

Comments

Sky plot

Sky plot

Histogram

M46 and NGC 2438, Steven Bellavia

In these public groups

Imaged with APT