Puppis ("stern") is a constellation in the southern sky. It was originally part of the traditional constellation of Argo Navis, which was divided into three parts, the other two being Carina, and Vela. Puppis is the largest of the three constellations in square degrees. It is one of the 88 modern constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union.
NGC 2264 is the designation number of the New General Catalogue that identifies two astronomical objects as a single object: the Cone Nebula, and the Christmas Tree Cluster. Two other objects are within this designation but not officially included, the Snowflake Cluster, and the Fox Fur Nebula. All of the objects are located in the Monoceros constellation and are located about 720 parsecs or 2,300 light-years from Earth. Due to its relative proximity and large size, it is extremely well-studied. NGC 2264 is sometimes referred to as the Christmas Tree Cluster and the Cone Nebula. However, the designation of NGC 2264 in the New General Catalogue refers to both objects and not the cluster alone.
The Carina Nebula or Eta Carinae Nebula is a large, complex area of bright and dark nebulosity in the constellation Carina, located in the Carina–Sagittarius Arm of the Milky Way galaxy. The nebula is approximately 8,500 light-years (2,600 pc) from Earth.
Messier 38 or M38, also known as NGC 1912 or Starfish Cluster, is an open cluster of stars in the constellation of Auriga. It was discovered by Giovanni Batista Hodierna before 1654 and independently found by Le Gentil in 1749. The open clusters M36 and M37, also discovered by Hodierna, are often grouped together with M38. Distance is about 1.066 kpc (3,480 ly) away from Earth. The open cluster NGC 1907 lies nearby on the sky, but the two are most likely just experiencing a fly-by, having originated in different parts of the galaxy.
An asterism is an observed pattern or group of stars in the sky. Asterisms can be any identified pattern or group of stars, and therefore are a more general concept than the 88 formally defined constellations. Constellations are based on asterisms, but unlike asterisms, constellations outline and today completely divide the sky and all its celestial objects into regions around their central asterisms. For example, the asterism known as the Big Dipper or the Plough comprises the seven brightest stars in the constellation Ursa Major. Another asterism is the triangle, within the constellation of Capricornus.
NGC 6633 is a large bright open cluster in the constellation Ophiuchus. Discovered in 1745-46 by Philippe Loys de Chéseaux, it was independently rediscovered by Caroline Herschel in 1783 and included in her brother William's catalog as H VIII.72. Bright enough to be seen with the naked eye, the cluster is considered a fine object for binoculars or small telescopes.
NGC 6231 is an open cluster in the southern sky located half a degrees north of Zeta Scorpii. NGC 6231 is part of a swath of young, bluish stars in the constellation Scorpius known as the Scorpius OB1 association. The star Zeta1 is a member of this association, while its brighter apparent partner, Zeta2, is only 150 ly from Earth and so is not a member.
NGC 1502 is a young open cluster of approximately 60 stars in the constellation Camelopardalis, discovered by William Herschel on November 3, 1787. It has a visual magnitude of 6.0 and thus is dimly visible to the naked eye. This cluster is located at a distance of approximately 3,500 light years from the Sun, at the outer edge of the Cam OB1 association of co-moving stars, and is likely part of the Orion Arm. The asterism known as Kemble's Cascade appears to "flow" into NGC 1502, but this is just a chance alignment of stars.
NGC 6530 is a young open cluster of stars in the southern constellation of Sagittarius, located some 4,300 light years from the Sun. It exists within the H II region known as the Lagoon Nebula, or Messier 8, and spans an angular diameter of 14.0′. The nebulosity was first discovered by G. B. Hodierna prior to 1654, then re-discovered by J. Flamsteed circa 1680. It was P. Loys who classified it as a cluster in 1746, as he could only resolve stars. The following year, G. Le Gentil determined it was both a nebula and a cluster.
The Heart Nebula is an emission nebula, 7500 light years away from Earth and located in the Perseus Arm of the Galaxy in the constellation Cassiopeia. It was discovered by William Herschel on 3 November 1787. It displays glowing ionized hydrogen gas and darker dust lanes.
NGC 6025 is an open cluster of stars in the southern constellation of Triangulum Australe, near the northern constellation border with Norma. It was discovered by Abbe Lacaille in 1751 during his expedition to the Cape of Good Hope. The cluster is in the Caldwell catalogue as entry number 95, and is located at a mean distance of 2,410 ly from the Sun. NGC 6025 can be spotted with the naked eye, but is better viewed with a set of large binoculars. It has an apparent visual magnitude of 5.1 and spans an angular size of 15′.
Gemini is one of the constellations of the zodiac and is located in the northern celestial hemisphere. It was one of the 48 constellations described by the 2nd century AD astronomer Ptolemy, and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations today. Its name is Latin for twins, and it is associated with the twins Castor and Pollux in Greek mythology. Its old astronomical symbol is (♊︎).
NGC 2374 is an open cluster of stars in the Canis Major constellation. It was discovered on January 31, 1785 by the German-British astronomer William Herschel. This cluster is relatively rich in stars but is scattered across an angular diameter of 19.0′. It has an integrated visual magnitude of 8.0 and can be viewed with a modest amateur telescope. NGC 2374 is located at a distance of approximately 3,950 light-years (1,212 pc) from the Sun.
NGC 2509 is an open cluster in the constellation of Puppis. It was discovered on 3 December 1783 by William Herschel. It was described as "bright, pretty rich, slightly compressed" by John Louis Emil Dreyer, the compiler of the New General Catalogue.
NGC 1980 is a young open cluster associated with an emission nebula in the constellation Orion. It was discovered by William Herschel on 31 January 1786. Its apparent size is 14 × 14 arc minutes and it is located around the star Iota Orionis on the southern tip of the Orion constellation.
NGC 2527 is an open cluster in the constellation Puppis. It was discovered by William Herschel on December 9, 1784. The cluster was also observed by John Herschel on January 7, 1831. He also observed it on February 5, 1837, identifying it as a different object, which was catalogued as NGC 2520. It is a poor cluster and with no central concentration, with Trumpler class III1p.
NGC 6910 is an open cluster in the constellation Cygnus. It was discovered by William Herschel on October 17, 1786. The cluster was also observed by John Herschel on September 18, 1828. It is a poor cluster with prominent central concentration and Trumpler class I2p. NGC 6910 is the core cluster of the stellar association Cygnus OB9.
NGC 957 is a loosely bound open cluster located in the constellation Perseus. It has an apparent magnitude of 7.6 and an approximate size of 11 arc-minutes. It is young at less than 11 million years old.
NGC 1662 is a loosely bound open cluster located in the constellation Orion. It has an apparent magnitude of 7.6 and an approximate size of 20 arc-minutes. It is also known as the Klingon Battlecruiser Cluster by amateur astronomers. NGC 1662 was discovered by the German-British astronomer William Herschel in 1784. Although estimates of its age vary from 100 to 800 million years old, latest studies believe the cluster to be about 400 million years old.
NGC 1220 is a young compact open cluster in the constellation Perseus. It was discovered by John Herschel in 1831.
