Messier 50
| Messier 50 | |
|---|---|
| File:M50 Open Star Cluster.png Open Messier 50 in Monoceros | |
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Right ascension | 07h 02m 47.5s[1] |
| Declination | −08° 20′ 16″[1][a] |
| Distance | 2,870 ly (881 pc)[2] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 5.9[3] |
| Apparent dimensions (V) | 16.0′[3] |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mass | > 285 M☉[4] M☉ |
| Radius | 8.9 ly (2.73 pc)[4] |
| Estimated age | 158[5] Myr |
| Other designations | M50, NGC 2323, Cr 124, C 0700-082, OCl 559[6] |
| Associations | |
| Constellation | Monoceros |
Messier 50 or M 50, also known as NGC 2323 or the Heart-shaped Cluster, is an open cluster of stars in the constellation Monoceros. It was recorded by G. D. Cassini before 1711 and independently discovered by Charles Messier in 1772[b] while observing Biela's Comet. It is sometimes described as a 'heart-shaped' figure or a blunt arrowhead.[3]
M50 is about 2,900 light-years away from Earth[2] and is near to but narrowly not estimated to be gravitationally tied to the Canis Major (CMa) OB1 association.[4] It has a core radius of 5.9 ly (1.8 pc)[7] and spans 17.8 ly (5.46 pc).[4] The cluster has 508 confirmed and 109 probable members – their combined mass is more than 285 M☉, the mean stellar density would thus be 1.3 stars per cubic parsec.[4] It is around 140 million years old,[1] with two high-mass white dwarfs[8] and two chemically peculiar stars.[9]
Traditionally considered to be a single star cluster, in 2025 it was found to consist of two separate sub-clusters (NGC 2323-a and NGC 2323-b), making it a binary cluster.[5]
Gallery
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Open Messier 50 in Monoceros
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Messier 50 is found 8° north and 3° east of Sirius
See also
[edit | edit source]References and footnotes
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- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b c d e Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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- ^ Eight out of ninety degrees south of the celestial equator. Thus its light reaches all parts of the Earth, down to a good minimal cumulation 15° above the horizon, on the unobstructed southern horizons of the 67th parallel north. This rules out Iceland and the north coasts of the two northernmost continents.
- ^ On 5 April
External links
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- Messier 50 - at Deep Sky Videos
- Messier 50, SEDS Messier pages
- M50 Image by Waid Observatory
- Messier 50 on WikiSky: DSS2, SDSS, GALEX, IRAS, Hydrogen α, X-Ray, Astrophoto, Sky Map, Articles and images
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