Deep space
Messier 46
Open cluster · M46 · NGC 2437
Open cluster in Puppis
Photo: Ole Nielsen · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons
Messier 46 or M46, also known as NGC 2437, is an open cluster of stars in the slightly southern constellation of Puppis. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1771. Dreyer described it as "very bright, very rich, very large." It is about 5,000 light-years away. There are an estimated 500 stars in the cluster with a combined mass of 453 M☉, and it is thought to be a mid-range estimate of 251.2 million years old.
Description from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
In your sky
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Key facts
Distance
~5,400 light-years
Apparent mag.
+6
Apparent size
22.8′
Best seen with
Naked eye (dark sky)
Catalogue
M46 · NGC 2437
Did you know
- Listed as Messier 46 in the Messier catalogue, also known as NGC 2437.
- Found in the constellation Puppis.
- Visible to the naked eye from a dark, moonless site.
