Open Cluster M46
Open Cluster M46: This assembly of stars in a distance of about 5000 LY is one of the numerous Open Clusters in the constellation of Puppis just next to Canis Major or the Great Dog. It is a group of several hundert young (about 300 mio years old) blue-white stars, which can be observed nicely with binoculars or small telescopes.
At the rim of the cluster is the Planetary Nebula NGC 2438 with its oval ringshape, which shows a several billion years old star at the end of its life time.
Object |
Open Cluster M46 |
|---|---|
Catagory |
Open Clusters |
Designation |
M 046 |
Constellation |
Puppis |
Optics |
TMB 130 f/6 with Field Flattener |
Camera |
QHY8/ALccd 6c |
Exposure |
7 x 10min IDAS LPS filter. Maxim DL for image acquisition |
Calibration |
No |
|---|---|
Guiding |
Meade DSI Pro II and Skywatcher ED80 as Guide Scope, Maxim DL as Guiding Software |
Mount |
Astro-Physics 900 GTO |
Processing |
Maxim DL5, Photoshop |
Location, Date |
Somerset West, South Africa - 31 Dec 2008 |
Remark |
