M 50
Scientific overview
M 50 is an open cluster in the constellation Monoceros. It shines at apparent magnitude 5.9 and spans about 14.1 arcminutes of sky.
Observation guide
Guidance follows standard observing practice, derived from the object's real magnitude and position. A dark, moonless sky always helps.
Location in the sky
Precision measurements
Distances and velocities from SIMBAD · NGC 2323
| Distance | 3,206 ly | SIMBAD · catalogued |
| Physical size (major axis) | 13.149966 ly | SIMBAD · derived |
| Radial velocity | 6.303 ± 0.513 km/s | SIMBAD · measured |
| Right ascension (ICRS) | 105.684167 deg | SIMBAD · measured |
| Declination (ICRS) | -8.365 deg | SIMBAD · measured |
Full field-level provenance
- Distance: Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · mesDistance · dist · 2021A&A...651A.104P · distance indicator: paral · catalogued value · source value 983 pc · retrieved 2026-07-11
- Physical size (major axis): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · derived (OpenNGC angular size × SIMBAD distance) · physical size = angular size × distance (small-angle); angular size from OpenNGC, distance from SIMBAD mesDistance · derived · retrieved 2026-07-11
- Radial velocity: Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · rvz_radvel · 2023A&A...674A..37G · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
- Right ascension (ICRS): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · ra · 2021A&A...647A..19T · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
- Declination (ICRS): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · dec · 2021A&A...647A..19T · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
Physical size is derived from the OpenNGC angular size and the catalogued distance (small-angle: size = angle × distance). This is a Galactic object: its Doppler shift is shown as a radial velocity, not a cosmological redshift. Fields a source did not provide are omitted, never invented.
Other objects in Monoceros
| Object | Type | Mag | Size (′) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Tree ClusterNGC 2264 | Cluster with nebulosity | 3.9 | 11.4 |
| NGC 2232NGC 2232 | Open cluster | 3.9 | 9.9 |
| NGC 2239C 50 · NGC 2239 | Cluster with nebulosity | 4.8 | 9.3 |
| Great Bird ClusterNGC 2301 | Open cluster | 6 | 10.2 |
| Rosette NebulaC 49 · NGC 2238 | H II region | 6 | 80 |
| NGC 2343NGC 2343 | Open cluster | 6.7 | 7.5 |
| NGC 2353NGC 2353 | Open cluster | 7.1 | 6.6 |
| NGC 2335NGC 2335 | Open cluster | 7.2 | 8.7 |
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- OpenNGCOpenNGC (M. Verga) — NGC/IC, Messier, and Caldwell catalogue data
Openly-licensed deep-sky catalogue: object types, positions, magnitudes, sizes, morphology, and cross-identifiers.