H-NGC2423
Open Cluster in Puppis
About
NGC 2423 is a loose open cluster in Puppis with 50 to 60 stars, about 2,500 light-years away. William Herschel found it in 1786. It sits near M46 and M47 on the sky, but it has no physical link to either.
Imaging tips
- At 19′ across, 1280–2130 mm on APS-C frames it with room around it.
- One imager called it very faint and rarely discussed; in their RGB frame it is the dim cluster above M47, with M46 at lower left.
- That frame used a 155 mm refractor with 11 five-minute subs per colour channel, about 2 hours 45 minutes in total.
- Brightness is 21.7 mag/arcsec². Best in December and January, peaking near 26° from 50°N.
Facts
- Size
- 19′
- Magnitude
- 6.7
- Coordinates
- RA 7h 37.2m, Dec −13° 52′
- Framing, APS-C
- 1280–2130 mm
- Framing, full frame
- 1950–3260 mm
- Best months
- Jan, Dec
- Peak altitude
- 26° from 50°N, 41° from 35°N