H-NGC2194
Open Cluster in Orion
About
Found in Orion, the cluster NGC 2194 spans about 9′ and lies 33′ from 73 Orionis, toward the west-northwest. A 2025 study put it near 3,500 light-years and about 30 million years old, far younger than earlier estimates of 400–550 million. An older count found 149 members to magnitude 15.
Imaging tips
- Framed at 2420–4040 mm on APS-C or 3710–6190 mm on full frame.
- Fairly faint at 22.1 mag/arcsec², though the cluster itself is magnitude 8.5.
- Nearby are two H II regions, catalogued as Sh 2-272 and Sh 2-271. Through a 30-inch scope an observer glimpsed Sh 2-271 only with averted vision and found Sh 2-272 barely visible, best with an H-beta filter.
- Best in December and January; it peaks near 53° from 50°N.
Facts
- Size
- 10′
- Magnitude
- 8.5
- Coordinates
- RA 6h 13.7m, Dec +12° 49′
- Framing, APS-C
- 2420–4040 mm
- Framing, full frame
- 3710–6190 mm
- Best months
- Jan, Dec
- Peak altitude
- 53° from 50°N, 68° from 35°N