Skip to content
AsteriaStar
Open cluster · Monoceros

NGC 2232

Deep skyNGC 2232

Scientific overview

NGC 2232 is an open cluster in the constellation Monoceros. It shines at apparent magnitude 3.9 and spans about 9.9 arcminutes of sky.

Observation guide

Difficulty
Naked eye
Recommended equipment
no equipment needed (dark sky helps)
Best observed
Winter (evening sky)
Best hemisphere
Both (equatorial)

Guidance follows standard observing practice, derived from the object's real magnitude and position. A dark, moonless sky always helps.

Location in the sky

Constellation
Monoceros
RA / Dec
6.467h / -4.8474°
Hemisphere
Both
Season
Winter

Precision measurements

Distances and velocities from SIMBAD · NGC 2232

Distance1,044 lySIMBAD · catalogued
Physical size (major axis)3.005641 lySIMBAD · derived
Radial velocity25.77 ± 0.11 km/sSIMBAD · measured
Right ascension (ICRS)96.887917 degSIMBAD · measured
Declination (ICRS)-4.748889 degSIMBAD · measured
Full field-level provenance
  • Distance: Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · mesDistance · dist · 2022ApJ...931..156P · catalogued value · source value 320 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 · 2019A&A...623A..80C · 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.

ObjectTypeMagSize (′)
Christmas Tree ClusterNGC 2264Cluster with nebulosity3.911.4
NGC 2239C 50 · NGC 2239Cluster with nebulosity4.89.3
M 50M 50 · NGC 2323Open cluster5.914.1
Great Bird ClusterNGC 2301Open cluster610.2
Rosette NebulaC 49 · NGC 2238H II region680
NGC 2343NGC 2343Open cluster6.77.5
NGC 2353NGC 2353Open cluster7.16.6
NGC 2335NGC 2335Open cluster7.28.7

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.