Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Hydra (Hya)  ·  Contains:  M 48  ·  NGC 2548  ·  NGC 2583  ·  NGC 2584  ·  NGC 2585
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Messier 48, Timothy Martin
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Messier 48

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Messier 48, Timothy Martin
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Messier 48

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Description

Only my second image with the FSQ at DSW, Professor Meghan Gray has called M48 "The Lost and Found Cluster." Apparently, Chuck wrote down the wrong coordinates for this open cluster when he added it as the 48th entry in his catalogue of non-comets. Caroline Herschel and Johann Bode later discovered this cluster, and based on Messier's descriptions, scientists have concluded that this is the cluster he meant to record. 

As with other Messier open clusters I've explored this year, this one is surrounded by a spectacular field of gas and dust. I would venture that this dusty frame comprises integrated flux nebula. And there is some very faint signal in the Ha band that may be extended red emission. But I'm not a scientist, so I cannot say for sure.

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