M46
OPEN STAR CLUSTER
Right Ascension:
7h 41m 48s
Best Seen:
2/15-5/1
Declination:
-14º 49' 00"
Magnitude:
6.0
Computer File:
m46
Constellation:
Puppis
Actual
Compared to
Distance
5,400 l.y.
--
Actual Brightness
--
--
Number of stars
500
--
Diameter
30 l.y.
--
Age
300 million years
--
Integrated Spectral Type
--
--
WHAT TO LOOK FOR THROUGH THE TELESCOPE:
-
Recommended eyepiece: 40mm or 80 mm.
-
Through the telescope the cluster will appear as a group of individual stars; much like sugar or salt sprinkled on a table top.
-
This cluster contains a small planetary nebula (NGC 2438) which can be seen through the telescope.
M46 INFORMATION:
-
This cluster was discovered by Charles Messier in 1771.
-
The average distance between stars in this cluster is 1.6 light years.
-
This cluster contains a small planetary nebula (NGC 2438) which can be seen through the telescope. This nebula is not part of M46: it is about 3,000 l.y. away, and so it is between us and the cluster.
Item
Updated
Notes
Coordinates
01-04-03
tweaked a bit
Distance
01-04-03
OK with http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m046.html
Actual Brightness
Number of Stars
01-04-03
OK with http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m046.html
Diameter
01-04-03
OK with http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m046.html
Age
01-04-03
OK with http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m046.html
Integrated Spectral Type
Other Information
01-04-03
addt’l info from http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m046.html