NGC 2301
| NGC 2301 | |
|---|---|
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Constellation | Monoceros |
| Right ascension | 06h 51m 45s[1] |
| Declination | +00° 27′ 36″[1] |
| Distance | 2,840 ly (872 pc[2]) |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 6.0 [1] |
| Apparent dimensions (V) | 12' |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Estimated age | 165 millions years |
NGC 2301 is an open cluster in the constellation Monoceros. It was discovered by William Herschel in 1786. It is visible through 7x50 binoculars and it is considered the best open cluster for small telescopes in the constellation.[3] It is located 5° WNW of delta Monocerotis and 2° SSE of 18 Monocerotis. The brightest star of the cluster is an orange G8 subgiant star of 8.0 magnitude, but it is possible that it is a foreground star. The cluster contains also blue giants. The brightest main sequence star is a B9 star with magnitude 9.1.[4]
References
- 1 2 3 "SIMBAD Astronomical Database". Results for NGC 2301. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
- ↑ WEBDA: NGC 2301
- ↑ Steve O'Meara's Herschel 400 Observing Guide p. 55
- ↑ Craig Crossen; Gerald Rhemann (2012). Sky Vistas: Astronomy for Binoculars and Richest-Field Telescopes. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 110. ISBN 9783709106266. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
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