Constellation Canis Major Declination –24° 59′ Apparent dimensions (V) 8′ | Right ascension 07 18.6 Apparent magnitude (V) 4.1 | |
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Distance 4.8 ± 1.6 kly (1.5 ± 0.5 kpc) | ||
NGC 2362 is an open cluster in the constellation Canis Major. It was discovered by Giovanni Batista Hodierna before 1654. Its brightest star is Tau Canis Majoris, and therefore it is sometimes called the Tau Canis Majoris Cluster. NGC 2362 has a distance of 1.48 kpc and is a relatively young 4–5 million years in age. It is a massive open cluster, with more than 500 solar masses. The cluster is in relation with the giant nebula Sh2-310, that lies at the same distance.
References
NGC 2362 Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA