Caldwell 71
Star cluster in Puppis · 3,600 light-years
🔭 Explore Caldwell 71 in the 3D map →View Caldwell 71 images →| Type | Star cluster |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Puppis |
| Right ascension | 7h 52m 10s |
| Declination | −38° 32′ |
| Object distance | 3,600 light-years |
| Apparent magnitude | 5.8 |
| Apparent size | 18.6′ (arc-minutes) |
| Approx. true diameter | 19.5 light-years across |
| Also known as | C71 · NGC 2477 |
Caldwell 71 is a star cluster (NGC 2477) in Puppis — a family of stars bound by gravity. It appears as number 71 in the Caldwell catalogue, Sir Patrick Moore's 1995 list of 109 bright deep-sky objects for amateur astronomers. It spans roughly 18.6 arc-minutes on the sky. At about magnitude 5.8, it is a rewarding binocular and small-telescope target.
Although it appears about 18.6′ wide on the sky, its real span is roughly 19.5 light-years — the difference is a measure of how far away it lies.
Observing Caldwell 71
Caldwell 71 lies in the constellation Puppis and is best placed in the evening sky around January. Its maximum altitude above the horizon depends on your latitude. It is best placed for observers in the southern hemisphere, and sits low for those far north. It is a comfortable target for binoculars and small telescopes.
See Caldwell 71 in Universe Finder
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Sources
- Position, magnitude and angular size from the OpenNGC catalogue (Mattia Verga).
- Object identity cross-referenced with SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg).
- Image credits and the original observation source are linked with each photograph.
Related objects
- Pleiades — star cluster
- Hercules Cluster — star cluster
- Small Sgr Star Cloud — star cluster
- Messier 25 — star cluster
- Messier 103 — star cluster