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Messier 50
Messier 50
Exposure Data
  • Image Field of View: 59.08' x 39.38'
  • Camera Field of View: 92.4' x 61.8'
  • Scope: 130 mm f/6.4 triplet apochromatic refractor
  • Focal Length: 831 mm
  • Focal Ratio: f/6.4
  • Camera: Modified Canon T3i (600D)
  • ISO: 800
  • Exposure: 2 x 300 seconds (10 minutes total)
  • SQM: 20.81

Messier 50 is a large open cluster located in Monoceros, 4 degrees north-northeast of Theta Canis Majoris.

The cluster shines at magnitude 5.9 and has an apparent size of 15 arcminutes. It is located at a distance of 3,000 light-years. At that distance, its true size in space would be 15 light-years in diameter. Its age is estimated to be 78 million years old.

M50 has 200 member stars, most being hot young B-type blue stars. The brightest is magnitude 9.

M50 may have been discovered by G. D. Cassini before 1711 and was subsequently discovered by Charles Messier in 1772.

North is to the top in the above image.

Messier 50
  • Catalogs: Messier 50, NGC 2323
  • Object Type: Open Cluster
  • Magnitude: 5.9v
  • Size: 15'
  • Constellation: Monoceros
  • Image Field Centered At:
    • RA: 07h 02m 45s
    • Dec: -08° 22' 04"



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