NGC 2509 is a fine, rich open star cluster located just 2 degrees west from 4.4 magnitude 16 Puppis. The sketch at left presents a 129X view in my 10-inch reflector. The cluster is centered. At 8' in diameter, NGC 2509 encompasses roughly 20 stars ranging in brightness from 10th to 13th magnitude. The cluster becomes highly concentrated toward the center. Many of these stars are quite faint and discernible only as a delicate, unresolved glow against the background sky. Another 31 stars surround NGC 2509 in my drawing. These include the irregular string of five 8th through 10th magnitude stars located south of the cluster.