Deep space
NGC 2506
Open cluster · C54 · NGC 2506
Open cluster in Monoceros
Photo: Roberto Mura · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
NGC 2506 is a mildly-elongated open cluster of stars in the equatorial constellation of Monoceros, located at a distance of 12.7 kly from the Sun near the Galactic anti-center. It was discovered by William Herschel in 1791. The cluster lies around 10,000 ly from the Galactic Center and about 1,600 ly above the Galactic plane. It is of intermediate age, estimated at around two billion years. The cluster has an angular radius of 12′ and a core radius of 4.8′.
Description from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
In your sky
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Key facts
Distance
~10,000 light-years
Apparent mag.
+7.6
Apparent size
10.8′
Best seen with
Binoculars
Catalogue
C54 · NGC 2506
Did you know
- Listed as Caldwell 54 in the Caldwell catalogue, also known as NGC 2506.
- Found in the constellation Monoceros.
- Within reach of ordinary binoculars under dark skies.
