H-NGC2489
Open Cluster in Puppis
About
NGC 2489 is a compact open cluster in Puppis; sources disagree on its distance, giving 4,400 to 12,100 light-years. A survey confirmed six red giants as members. William Herschel found it in 1785.
Imaging tips
- About 8′ across: 3030–5050 mm on APS-C frames it, so expect a long focal length.
- One image of it also showed the small cluster Haffner 20, 1.8′ across, and two bright stars: SAO 198636 (magnitude 4.78) and PX Puppis (6.25).
- That imager used a 6-inch f/4.5 scope with a mono camera and 45 frames each of L, R, G and B.
- Brightness is 21 mag/arcsec². Best in January and February, but it peaks near 10° from 50°N, so it is very low for northern sites.
Facts
- Size
- 8′
- Magnitude
- 7.9
- Coordinates
- RA 7h 56.3m, Dec −30° 4′
- Framing, APS-C
- 3030–5050 mm
- Framing, full frame
- longer than 4000 mm
- Best months
- Jan, Feb
- Peak altitude
- 10° from 50°N, 25° from 35°N