NGC 2362
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NGC 2362 |
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Deep Sky Object Chart
| Stars in Canis Major
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NGC 2363 is a star cluster, and unlike M46, M47 and M93,
it is properly in Canis Major. Look for NGC 2362 around
the 4th magnitude star Tau Canis Majoris, just east of
the surfer's hind leg. The cluster is small enough that
fairly large magnifications are needed to really show it
off, but the sky location so near the bright stars of
Canis Major makes this a good target for
telescope-equipped beginners with moderate instruments
(perhaps 6 inch aperture and larger).
The brightest star, Tau, seems to be a genuine member of this tight little clump of stars, and if so, it must be quite a luminary: the cluster is 3200 light years away, and that distance would make Tau more than 23,000 times brighter than the sun! |
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