M50 in the constellation of Monocerus
Sketch and Details by Ferenc Lovró
M-50 of Monoceros
This rarely mentioned Messier object looks like a diffuse, large spot even through the finderscope. On a low/moderate magnification a view of solid, dense open cluster appears in front of our eyes. A very nice member of the cluster can be found around 9′ north from the middle of the cluster: a red giant of a color-index of 1.7, catalogued as HD 52938. With its 7.82 magnitude luminosity its also the brightest star of the cluster. Interestingly, because of its shiny red color, I wouldn’t think that this star is nearly 2 magnitudes brighter than the other stars in the centre of the cluster, which look like they’re the brightest by far.
Ferenc Lovró
Date / Time 2008.02.12 20:15 UT
Telescope: 12” f/5 Newtonian 71x
FOV: 22’
Seeing: 7/10 Transparency: 3/5
Object / Location: M-50 (NGC 2323) R.A. 7h 3m; Dec. -8º 20’
Sketching Location: Nádasladány, Hungary
Ferenc,
It is very hard job to sketch Open Cluster. Thanks for nice picture!
Marek
Fernec, I enjoyed your work, I too like to sketch open clusters at low power. I shall be following you into Monoceros very soon.
Congratulations, Dale