Cr135
Open Cluster in Puppis
About
The Pi Puppis Cluster lies in Puppis about 975 light-years away and is roughly 36 million years old. Six of its stars are brighter than 6th magnitude, led by the orange supergiant Pi Puppis at magnitude 2.7, and fainter members are scattered widely around them.
Imaging tips
- Sources disagree on its size, from 50′ to about 137′, and a source describes its fainter members as widespread, so plan a wide lens rather than a long focal length.
- One imager framed it in a 15° × 10° field with a 135 mm lens, stacking 12 exposures of 2 minutes through a broadband filter. NGC 2451, NGC 2477 and the Gum Nebula were in that field.
- A star cluster, so broadband imaging suits it.
- Best in December and January, but it peaks near 3° altitude from 50°N and near 18° from 35°N, so it needs a southern or low-horizon site.
Facts
- Size
- 50′
- Magnitude
- 2.1
- Coordinates
- RA 7h 17.5m, Dec −37° 3′
- Framing, APS-C
- 480–810 mm
- Framing, full frame
- 740–1240 mm
- Best months
- Jan, Dec
- Peak altitude
- 3° from 50°N, 18° from 35°N