M46 · open cluster
Messier 46
Messier 46 or M46, also known as NGC 2437, is an open cluster of stars in the slightly southern constellation of Puppis.
RA07h 41m 46sDec−14° 48' 36"
Identity & coordinates
Identification
- Primary designation
- M46
- All designations
- M46 · NGC 2437
- Object type
- Open Cluster
- Constellation
- Puppis
- Best viewing
- Winter · Spring
Coordinates & physical
- Right ascension (J2000)
- 07h 41m 46s
- Declination (J2000)
- −14° 48' 36"
- Apparent magnitude (V)
- —
- Distance
- —
Visibility tonight
The science
Messier 46 or M46, also known as NGC 2437, is an open cluster of stars in the slightly southern constellation of Puppis. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1771. Dreyer described it as "very bright, very rich, very large." It is about 5,000 light-years away. There are an estimated 500 stars in the cluster with a combined mass of 453 M☉, and it is thought to be a mid-range estimate of 251.2 million years old.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia · CC-BY-SA-4.0
References
- SIMBAD Not resolved
- NED Fetched May 8, 2026 View in NED ↗
- Wikipedia Fetched May 8, 2026 Read full article ↗
Wikipedia title resolved via designation — fell back to an alternate catalog designation.
1 merge conflict resolved
- coordinates: SIMBAD missing → NED used