NGC 2301 is an open cluster of stars in the constellation of Monoceros. It was discovered by German-English astronomer William Herschel in 1786. This formation is visible through 7x50 binoculars and it is considered the best open cluster for small telescopes in the constellation. It is located 5° WNW of Delta Monocerotis and 2° SSE of 18 Monocerotis. The brightest star of the cluster is an orange G8 subgiant star of 8.0 magnitude, but it is possible that it is a foreground star. The cluster contains also blue giants. The brightest main sequence star is a B9 star with magnitude 9.1.
Open cluster in the constellation Monoceros
NGC 2301
All data from the card 8
- Right ascension
- 06h 51m 45s
- Declination
- +00° 27′ 36″
- Distance
- 2,840 ly (872 pc)
- Apparent magnitude (V)
- 6.0
- Apparent dimensions (V)
- 12′
- Estimated age
- 165 million years old
- Other designations
- Cr 119
- Constellation
- Monoceros
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