Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Monoceros (Mon)  ·  Contains:  HD52434  ·  HD52481  ·  HD52506  ·  HD52535  ·  HD52536  ·  HD52720  ·  HD52840  ·  HD52890  ·  HD52921  ·  HD52938  ·  HD52939  ·  HD52964  ·  HD52965  ·  HD52980  ·  HD53058  ·  HD53120  ·  HD53136  ·  HD53301  ·  HD53395  ·  HD53428  ·  HD53484  ·  M 50  ·  NGC 2323
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M50, Kirby Collins
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M50

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M50, Kirby Collins
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M50

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Description

M50 is a large open cluster in the constellation Monoceros.  It may have first been observed by Cassini (the famous observer of Saturn) in 1711, and was rediscovered by Messier in 1772.  T. W. Webb called it "a brilliant cluster, straggling, J. Herschel says, to 30' and containing a red star...in a superb neighborhood where the Creator has 'sowed with stars the heaven thick as a field'." [quote from Burnham]

M50 has a somewhat compressed center, but with stragglers out to a diameter of 30' or so (the middle third of this frame).  It is a relatively young cluster at 78 million years, with many hot blue white stars.

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M50, Kirby Collins