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| « back to overview Star Clusters | Load higher resolution (1800 x 1200 Pixel 2800 x 2100 Pixel) | Object description |
NGC 2451-A and NGC 2451-B
NGC 2451 is an open star cluster in the constellation of Puppis with an apparent diameter of 50 arc minutes. According to present knowledge, NGC 2451 actually consists of two clusters, which, seen from Earth, happen to lie in exactly the same direction. Almost exactly in the middle is the bright yellow giant star HD 63032 with a brightness of nearly 4th magnitude. It is located at a distance of about 1200 light years from the solar system.
The closest of the star clusters, NGC 2451-A, is about 600 light years away, while the more distant one, NGC 2451-B, is about 1200 light years away - HD 63032 thus belongs to the more distant star cluster. Each of the two clusters consists of an estimated 100 stars. The age of both clusters is estimated to be almost 100 million years. Presumably both clusters were formed at about the same time in a large star formation area. Their diameters are about 10 light years. The faint nebulae in the background (GN 07.53.0) are a combination of emission and reflection nebulae with an apparent size of 4 to 5 degrees.
NGC 2451 was probably first observed by Giovanni Battista Hodierna around 1654. John Herschel discovered the star cluster on 1 February 1835.
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