NGC 2302
Open cluster in the constellation Monoceros
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
NGC 2302 (also called NGC 2299) is an open cluster[3] in the constellation Monoceros.[4] It was discovered on March 4, 1785, by William Herschel (and later listed as NGC 2302)[5][4] and separately on January 19, 1828 by John Herschel (and later listed as NGC 2299).[5][6]
| NGC 2302 | |
|---|---|
NGC 2302 imaged by Pan-STARRS | |
| Observation data | |
| Right ascension | 06h 51m 53.67s[1] |
| Declination | −07° 04′ 54.8″[1] |
| Distance | 3.78 ± 0.26 kly (1.16 ± 0.08 kpc)[2] |
| Apparent dimensions (V) | 30′[2] |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mass | 333±48[2] M☉ |
| Radius | 17 ly (5.1 pc)[2] |
| Estimated age | 80 ± 20 Myr[2] |
| Associations | |
| Constellation | Monoceros |
A low-mass open cluster, NGC 2302 has a stellar mass of about 333 times that of the Sun. NGC 2302 is about 80 million years old. Based on Gaia parallaxes, NGC 2302 is about 3,800 light-years (1,160 parsecs) away from the Sun. With an apparent radius of 15′, this corresponds to a physical radius of about 17 light-years (5.1 parsecs).[2]
