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Two field mosaic of Messier 46 + Messier 47 + NGC 2438 and
NGC 2423 |
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Object description:
The open star cluster M
46 is located in the constellation Puppis at a distance of approximately 5500
light years. The apparent diameter in the sky is about 30 arcminutes,
comparable to the diameter of the Moon. The cluster contains about 500 stars
and the age was determined to 300 million years. Th egreenish ring at the
northern edge of M46 is the planetary nebula NGC 2438. The overlay of cluster
and nebula is a geometric effect because the distance to NGC 2438 is just about
3000 light years. At the upper edge of the image there is another, weaker
planetary nebula named PK 231.4 + 04.3.
The image left shows a
comparison to the full moon.
Click here or the thumbnail at left to load a larger
image.. |
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