Open Cluster with a Surprise

Messier 46 and NGC 2438
Sketch and Details by Oscar Ll. (Almach)

Object Type: Open Cluster – Planetary Nebula

Location: Barcelona – Spain

M46 is one of my favorites open cluster. But is necessary dark skies without light pollution in order to enjoy with its view.

This open cluster practically fills the eyepiece field with 50x. We can see a large number of stars not too bright, between 9th and 14th magnitude… and the surprise: the planetary nebula NGC2438. To see the planetary I had to use an OIII filter.

For more details of my observation you can visit my blog:

http://laorilladelcosmos.blogspot.com/2010/01/m46-cumulo-abierto-con-sorpresa-en.html

M46 – Open Cluster / NGC 2438 Planetary Nebula

Date and Time: 2010-01-15, 23h 24m UT

Telescope: SC Celestron Nexstar 5i (5″)

Eyepiece: 25mm (50x)

White paper, HB2 graphite pencil, and scanned and inverted with Photoshop

Seeing: 4/5 (5 the best)

Transparency: Clear. Moderate light pollution.

Location Constellation: Puppis

Position: R.A. 07 h 42 min

Dec. -14° 49′

Thank you and best regards.

Oscar