NGC 2477 explained

NGC 2477
Epoch:	J2000
Constellation:	Puppis
Dist Ly:	~ 3600 ly
Dist Pc:	~ 1100 pc
Appmag V:	5.8
Size V:	27
Names:	Caldwell 71, Cr 165

NGC 2477 (also known as Caldwell 71 or the Termite Hole Cluster^[1]) is an open cluster in the constellation Puppis. It contains about 300 stars,^[2] and was discovered by Abbé Lacaille in 1751.^[3] The cluster's age has been estimated at 700 million years.

Visual appearance

NGC 2477 is a stunning cluster, almost as extensive in the sky as the full moon. It has been called "one of the top open clusters in the sky",^[4] like a highly resolved globular cluster without the dense center characteristic of globular clusters. Burnham notes that several observers have remarked on its richness, and that although it is smaller than M46 (also an open cluster in Puppis), it is richer and more compact.^[5]

Distance

Burnham cites several published distances, ranging from 700pc to 1900pc, where "ly" is the abbreviation for light year.

Notes and References

1. Book: Stoyan, Ronald. Schurig. Stephan. interstellarum Deep Sky Atlas. Cambridge University Press; Oculum-Verlag GmbH. Erlangen. 2014. 978-1-107-50338-0. 920437579.
2. Web site: NGC 2477 . SEDS Messier Objects Database . 2010-12-13.
3. The search for the nebulae - VI . Jones . K. G. . Journal of the British Astronomical Association . 79 . 213–222 . March 1969 . 1969JBAA...79..213J.
4. Web site: NGC/IC Project Public Database . Results for NGC 2477 . 2010-12-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120520010558/http://www.ngcicproject.org/ngcicdb.asp . 2012-05-20.
5. Book: Robert Burnham, Jr. . Burnham's Celestial Handbook . III . 1978 . Dover . New York . 978-0-486-24065-7 . 1516 .