C64 — Tau Canis Majoris Cluster
Open Cluster in Canis Major
About
NGC 2362 is a young cluster set in Canis Major, centred on its brightest member, and about 4,800 light-years from us. That member is Tau Canis Majoris, an O-type supergiant. Only 4–5 million years old, it has already lost its gas and dust, and about 35 members show debris disks.
Imaging tips
- Only about 7′ across, so it takes 3,370–5,610 mm on APS-C to span a third to half of the frame; at shorter lengths it is a small cluster in a wide field.
- One published frame of 5 minutes at 2,800 mm and ISO 800, with no filter, already records it in a 27′ by 18′ field.
- Best in December and January; it stays below 15° altitude from 50°N.
Facts
- Size
- 7.2′
- Magnitude
- 4.1
- Coordinates
- RA 7h 18.7m, Dec −24° 57′
- Framing, APS-C
- 3370–5610 mm
- Framing, full frame
- longer than 4000 mm
- Best months
- Jan, Dec
- Peak altitude
- 15° from 50°N, 30° from 35°N