Messier 50

Messier 50
Messier 50
	Open Messier 50 in Monoceros
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Right ascension	07h 02m 47.5s
Declination	−08° 20′ 16″
Distance	2,870 ly (881 pc)
Apparent magnitude (V)	5.9
Apparent dimensions (V)	16.0′
Physical characteristics
Mass	> 285 M☉ M☉
Radius	8.9 ly (2.73 pc)
Estimated age	140 Myr
Other designations	M50, NGC 2323, Cr 124, C 0700-082, OCl 559
Associations
Constellation	Monoceros
	See also: Open cluster, List of open clusters

Messier 50 or M 50, also known as NGC 2323 or the Heart-shaped Cluster, is an open cluster of stars in the constellation Monoceros. It was recorded by G. D. Cassini before 1711 and independently discovered by Charles Messier in 1772^[b] while observing Biela's Comet. It is sometimes described as a 'heart-shaped' figure or a blunt arrowhead.^[3]

M50 is about 2,900 light-years away from Earth^[2] and is near to but narrowly not estimated to be gravitationally tied to the Canis Major (CMa) OB1 association.^[4] It has a core radius of 5.9 ly (1.8 pc)^[6] and spans 17.8 ly (5.46 pc).^[4] The cluster has 508 confirmed and 109 probable members – their combined mass is more than 285 M_☉, the mean stellar density would thus be 1.3 stars per cubic parsec.^[4] It is around 140 million years old,^[1] with two high-mass white dwarfs^[7] and two chemically peculiar stars.^[8]

Gallery

Sirius and M41 (lower right), M50 (upper left), and NGC 2360 (lower left)
Messier 50 is found 8° north and 3° east of Sirius

References and footnotes

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Frolov, V. N.; et al. (February 2012), "Investigation of the open star cluster NGC 2323 (M50) based on the proper motions and photometry of its constituent stars", Astronomy Letters, 38 (2): 74–86, Bibcode:2012AstL...38...74F, doi:10.1134/S106377371202003X, S2CID 255199532.
^ ^a ^b Kharchenko, N. V.; et al. (2005), "Astrophysical parameters of Galactic open clusters", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 438 (3): 1163–1173, arXiv:astro-ph/0501674, Bibcode:2005A&A...438.1163K, doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20042523, S2CID 9079873.
^ ^a ^b ^c Thompson, Robert; Thompson, Barbara (2007), Illustrated Guide to Astronomical Wonders: From Novice to Master Observer, DIY science, O'Reilly Media, Inc., p. 321, ISBN 978-0596526856
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Claria, J. J.; et al. (February 1998), "Photometric study of the open cluster NGC 2323", Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement, 128: 131–138, Bibcode:1998A&AS..128..131C, doi:10.1051/aas:1998130
^ "M 50". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
^ Sharma, Saurabh; et al. (May 2008), "Mass Functions and Photometric Binaries in Nine Open Clusters", The Astronomical Journal, 135 (5): 1934–1945, arXiv:0803.0122, Bibcode:2008AJ....135.1934S, doi:10.1088/0004-6256/135/5/1934, S2CID 11895493.
^ Cummings, Jeffrey D.; et al. (February 2016), "Two Massive White Dwarfs from NGC 2323 and the Initial-Final Mass Relation for Progenitors of 4 to 6.5 M", The Astrophysical Journal, 818 (1): 13, arXiv:1601.03053, Bibcode:2016ApJ...818...84C, doi:10.3847/0004-637X/818/1/84, S2CID 119263067, 84.
^ Paunzen, E.; et al. (April 2014), "Photoelectric search for peculiar stars in open clusters. XV. Feinstein 1, NGC 2168, NGC 2323, NGC 2437, NGC 2547, NGC 4103, NGC 6025, NGC 6633, Stock 2, and Trumpler 2", Astronomy & Astrophysics, 564: 8, arXiv:1403.3538, Bibcode:2014A&A...564A..42P, doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201423521, S2CID 119174151, A42.

^ Eight out of ninety degrees south of the celestial equator. Thus its light reaches all parts of the Earth, down to a good minimal cumulation 15° above the horizon, on the unobstructed southern horizons of the 67th parallel north. This rules out Iceland and the north coasts of the two northernmost continents.
^ On 5 April

External links

Messier 50 - at Deep Sky Videos
Messier 50, SEDS Messier pages
M50 Image by Waid Observatory
Messier 50 on WikiSky: DSS2, SDSS, GALEX, IRAS, Hydrogen α, X-Ray, Astrophoto, Sky Map, Articles and images

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day: Open Cluster M50 (28 January 1997)

[Frolov2012-1] Frolov, V. N.; et al. (February 2012), "Investigation of the open star cluster NGC 2323 (M50) based on the proper motions and photometry of its constituent stars", Astronomy Letters, 38 (2): 74–86, Bibcode:2012AstL...38...74F, doi:10.1134/S106377371202003X, S2CID 255199532.

[kharchenko2005-3] Kharchenko, N. V.; et al. (2005), "Astrophysical parameters of Galactic open clusters", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 438 (3): 1163–1173, arXiv:astro-ph/0501674, Bibcode:2005A&A...438.1163K, doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20042523, S2CID 9079873.

[Thompson2007-4] Thompson, Robert; Thompson, Barbara (2007), Illustrated Guide to Astronomical Wonders: From Novice to Master Observer, DIY science, O'Reilly Media, Inc., p. 321, ISBN 978-0596526856

[Claria1998-5] Claria, J. J.; et al. (February 1998), "Photometric study of the open cluster NGC 2323", Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement, 128: 131–138, Bibcode:1998A&AS..128..131C, doi:10.1051/aas:1998130

[SIMBAD-6] "M 50". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 27 November 2018.

[Sharma2008-8] Sharma, Saurabh; et al. (May 2008), "Mass Functions and Photometric Binaries in Nine Open Clusters", The Astronomical Journal, 135 (5): 1934–1945, arXiv:0803.0122, Bibcode:2008AJ....135.1934S, doi:10.1088/0004-6256/135/5/1934, S2CID 11895493.

[Cummings2016-9] Cummings, Jeffrey D.; et al. (February 2016), "Two Massive White Dwarfs from NGC 2323 and the Initial-Final Mass Relation for Progenitors of 4 to 6.5 M", The Astrophysical Journal, 818 (1): 13, arXiv:1601.03053, Bibcode:2016ApJ...818...84C, doi:10.3847/0004-637X/818/1/84, S2CID 119263067, 84.

[Paunzen2014-10] Paunzen, E.; et al. (April 2014), "Photoelectric search for peculiar stars in open clusters. XV. Feinstein 1, NGC 2168, NGC 2323, NGC 2437, NGC 2547, NGC 4103, NGC 6025, NGC 6633, Stock 2, and Trumpler 2", Astronomy & Astrophysics, 564: 8, arXiv:1403.3538, Bibcode:2014A&A...564A..42P, doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201423521, S2CID 119174151, A42.

[2] Eight out of ninety degrees south of the celestial equator. Thus its light reaches all parts of the Earth, down to a good minimal cumulation 15° above the horizon, on the unobstructed southern horizons of the 67th parallel north. This rules out Iceland and the north coasts of the two northernmost continents.

[7] On 5 April

[1]

[a]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[b]

[6]

[7]

[8]

v t e Messier objects
List	M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7 M8 M9 M10 M11 M12 M13 M14 M15 M16 M17 M18 M19 M20 M21 M22 M23 M24 M25 M26 M27 M28 M29 M30 M31 M32 M33 M34 M35 M36 M37 M38 M39 M40 M41 M42 M43 M44 M45 M46 M47 M48 M49 M50 M51 M52 M53 M54 M55 M56 M57 M58 M59 M60 M61 M62 M63 M64 M65 M66 M67 M68 M69 M70 M71 M72 M73 M74 M75 M76 M77 M78 M79 M80 M81 M82 M83 M84 M85 M86 M87 M88 M89 M90 M91 M92 M93 M94 M95 M96 M97 M98 M99 M100 M101 M102 M103 Added M104 M105 M106 M107 M108 M109 M110
See also	Caldwell catalogue Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars Herschel 400 Catalogue Index Catalogue New General Catalogue Revised New General Catalogue
Category Commons Portal

Gallery

See also

References and footnotes

External links