NGC 2251: Open Star Cluster (Monoceros) RA: 06h 34.6m / DEC: +08° 22'.0 Instrument: 10-inch Starfinder |
This is a fine winter open cluster. Unfortunately, it is often overlooked in favor of nearby NGC 2264, an open cluster/nebula complex which features the elusive Cone nebula. NGC 2251 is pictured in my drawing. The view at 129X in my 10-inch reveals a distended star-rich region stretching northwest-to-southeast over an 8'x4' area. A close pair of 10th and 11th magnitude GSC stars, separated by 49", mark the center of the field. Twenty-seven field stars in the immediate vicinity fill out the richest portion of the cluster. 9th magnitude GSC 733:1555 stands alone, 7' northwest of the central pair. This star marks the outer edge of the cluster as defined by Lynga. Another 45 field stars complete the view. NGC 2264 lies 2.2 degrees to the northeast. |
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