NGC 2362

(AKA THE MEXICAN JUMPING CLUSTER)

OPEN CLUSTER IN CANIS MAJOR

 (Image Centred at ra 7h:18m / dec -24:57)

September 2015 - Camping La Porteña, San Antonio de Areco, Buenos Aires, Argentina

DATA

Type: Open Cluster

Apparent Magnitude: 4.1

Apparent diameter: 8 arc minutes 

Distance: 5000 light years

IMAGE INFORMATION

OPTICS: 8" f5 Orion Optics Reflector with Televue Paracorr working at 5.75

CAMERA: QSI 583 WS  

FILTERS: Baader LRGB

MOUNT: Sky Watcher NEQ6

SKY CONDITIONS: rural skies.

EXPOSURES: LRGB (30,30,30,30) RGB shots at bin 2x2

OBJECT DESCRIPTION AND IMAGE SESSION

Also known as the Tau Canis Majoris cluster, because its bright central star Tau Canis Majoris (4.39). The main star has an estimated mass between 40 to 50 solar masses. The star is a luminous super giant with absolute magnitude of -7 or 50.000 solar luminosities. The cluster contains about 60 stars and it is 25 millions old in age. A sweet visual target, even from urban skies, however because of its small size long focal length are required. It was discovered by Giovanni Battista Hodierna and published in 1654.