Open Cluster in Monoceros
Star-hop chart
Messier 50 is a nice open cluster for telescopes of all sizes. It lies about 3100 light years away, and it is about 13 light years in diameter. It contains mainly white and blue-white stars, but a few red and yellow stars are visible as well.
| Magnitude | 5.9 |
| Apparent Size | 16' |
| Distance (light yrs) | 3,100 |
| Right Ascension | 7:03.2 |
| Declination | -8 20 |
| Field of View | 40' x 27' |
Image details: 32 exposures of 120 seconds each, taken with a ZWO ASI2600MC Pro imager and a 14" Meade LX850 telescope at f/5.6.
February 2026