- Constellation: Hydra
- Right Ascension: 08h 13.7m
- Declination: -05° 45
- Distance: 1500 ly
Messier 48, an open cluster in the constellation of Hydra. Charles Messier originally recorded a wrong position for it, so it was "lost" until later astronomers identified it as NGC 2548. The cluster contains around 80 stars with three yellow giant stars.
- Details
- Category: Open Clusters
- Telescope: EDT 80mm Reftactor
- Camera: ZWO 1600 MM
- Constellation: Puppis
- Right Ascension: 07h 41.8m
- Declination: −14° 49′
- Distance: 5,400
Messier 46 is an open cluster located in the constellation of Puppis. The cluster contains approximately 500 stars and is estimated to be 300 million years old. Also visible in the cluster is a planetary nebula designated NGC 2438, however the nebula does not appear to be part of the cluster as it's radial velocity is different. Also barely visible is another planetary PK231+4.1 up and left of M46, and open cluster M 47 is also visible in the upper right corner.
- Details
- Category: Open Clusters
Read more: Messier 46, Messier 47 Open Clusters and Planetary Nebula Times 2
- Telescope: EDT 80mm Reftactor
- Camera: ZWO 1600 MM
- Constellation: Canis Major
- Right Ascension: 06h 46.0m
- Declination: −20° 46
- Distance: 2,300 ly
Messier 41 is an open cluster located in Canis Major near the brightest star in the sky, Sirius. First recorded notice of it was by Giovanni Battista Hordierna in 1645. Charles Messier added it to his catalog in January 1765.
The cluster consists of approximately 100 members, the brightest is an orange giant K3 type star located near the center of the cluster.
- Details
- Category: Open Clusters
- Telescope: EDT 80mm Reftactor
- Camera: ZWO 1600 MM
- Constellation: Crux
- Right Ascension: 12h 53m 42s
- Declination: −60° 22.0′
- Distance: 6,440 ly
NGC 4755, The Jewel Box Cluster is a young open cluster in the southern constellation of Crux. Taken with a remote scope in Australia while I waited out the clouds here. One of the youngest open clusters near us at an estimated age of 14-16 years, it contains many super-giant stars that haven't had time to burn through their fuel at their furious rate.
- Details
- Category: Open Clusters
- Constellation: Cygnus
- Right Ascension: 21h 31m 48.0s
- Declination: +48° 26′ 00"
- Distance: 1,010 ly
Messier 39 is an open cluster located in Cygnus. It contains an estimated 30 members and an age of approximately 200 - 300 million years. A wide and loose cluster with a starry background.
- Details
- Category: Open Clusters
- Telescope: EDT 80mm Reftactor
- Camera: ZWO 1600 MM
- Constellation: Cassiopeia
- Right Ascension: 01h 19m 32.6s
- Declination: +58° 17′ 27″
- Distance: 7,900 ly
NGC 457, better known as the ET cluster or the Owls cluster, is an open cluster located in the constellation of Cassiopeia
- Details
- Category: Open Clusters
- Telescope: EDT 80mm Reftactor
- Camera: ZWO 1600 MM