NGC 2374
Observation data (J2000.0 epoch)
Right ascension07h 24m 03.8s[1]
Declination−13° 14′ 06″[1]
Distance3,950 ly (1,212 pc)[2]
Apparent magnitude (V)8.0[3]
Apparent dimensions (V)19.0′[3]
Physical characteristics
Other designationsNGC 2374, Cr 139[4]
Associations
ConstellationCanis Major
See also: Open cluster, List of open clusters

NGC 2374 is an open cluster of stars in the Canis Major constellation.[3] It was discovered on January 31, 1785 by the German-British astronomer William Herschel.[5] This cluster is relatively rich in stars but is scattered across an angular diameter of 19.0′. It has an integrated visual magnitude of 8.0 and can be viewed with a modest amateur telescope.[3] NGC 2374 is located at a distance of approximately 3,950 light-years (1,212 pc) from the Sun.[2]

This association has a Trumpler class of II 3p, which means it is composed of both bright and faint stars (3) with little central concentration (II) and is sparsely populated with under 50 stars (p). The cluster has a core radius of 6.4 ± 2.4 ly (1.95 ± 0.74 pc) and a tidal radius of 85 ± 31 ly (26.00 ± 9.57 pc).[6] The estimated age of the cluster is around 75 million years. At least 20 stars of magnitude 14 or greater have been identified as probable members. Two candidate blue stragglers have been identified.[7] The distance to this cluster places it in the Orion-Cygnus arm of the Milky Way.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b Tarricq, Y.; et al. (March 2021), "3D kinematics and age distribution of the open cluster population", Astronomy & Astrophysics, 647, id. A19, arXiv:2012.04017, Bibcode:2021A&A...647A..19T, doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202039388.
  2. ^ a b Poggio, E.; et al. (2021). "Galactic spiral structure revealed by Gaia EDR3". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 651: A104. arXiv:2103.01970. Bibcode:2021A&A...651A.104P. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202140687.((cite journal)): CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  3. ^ a b c d Gilmour, Jess K. (2012), The Practical Astronomer’s Deep-sky Companion, Springer London, p. 31, ISBN 9781447100713.
  4. ^ "NGC 2374", SIMBAD, Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg, retrieved 2024-03-11.
  5. ^ Seligman, Courtney. "NGC Objects: NGC 2350 - 2399". cseligman.com. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  6. ^ Tarricq, Y.; et al. (March 2022), "Structural parameters of 389 local open clusters", Astronomy & Astrophysics, 659, id. A59, arXiv:2111.05291, Bibcode:2022A&A...659A..59T, doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202142186.
  7. ^ Rain, M. J.; et al. (June 2021). "A new, Gaia-based, catalogue of blue straggler stars in open clusters". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 650. id. A67. arXiv:2103.06004. Bibcode:2021A&A...650A..67R. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202040072.
  8. ^ Babu, G. S. D. (March 1985), "A study of the open cluster NGC 2374", Journal of Astrophysics and Astronomy, 6: 61–70, Bibcode:1985JApA....6...61B, doi:10.1007/BF02719530.

External links

New General Catalogue 2000 to 2499
Constellation of Canis Major
Categories