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Celestial Object

Messier 46

Star Clusters

Messier 46, also known as M46 or NGC 2437, is an open cluster of stars in the constellation Puppis, discovered by Charles Messier in 1771 and described by the astronomer J. L. E. Dreyer as very bright, very rich and very large. It lies about 5,000 light-years away and holds an estimated 500 stars with a combined mass of about 453 solar masses, at a mid-range age estimate of roughly 251 million years.

Facts
Classification
Constellation
Puppis 1
Catalogue
Messier Catalogue 1
Discovery Year
1771 2
In the Other Atlases

In Constellation

Also in Divinity Atlas: the constellation this subject lies in.

Sources
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia Foundation
2. Wikidata: Messier 46
Wikidata Q13910, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
Messier 46 (Wikipedia)
  • Messier 46, Wikipedia - lead section, catalogue classification
    Messier 46 or M46, also known as NGC 2437, is an open cluster of stars in the slightly southern constellation of Puppis.
  • Messier 46, Wikipedia - lead section, constellation
    Messier 46 or M46, also known as NGC 2437, is an open cluster of stars in the slightly southern constellation of Puppis.
  • In Group: Open Clusters, Lead sentence
    Messier 46 or M46, also known as NGC 2437, is an open cluster of stars in the slightly southern constellation of Puppis.
View the Source
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