Visual Astronomy

MESSIER 93
none
   
RA:
07h 44m 36s
DEC:
-23° 52' 00''
Type:
Open cluster
NGC:
2447
Magnitude:
6.20
Surface brightness :
Apparent dimensions :
22'x22'
Distance:
3,600 ly
   
 

As one of the last deepsky objects found by him personally, open cluster M93 was discovered by Charles Messier and cataloged by him on March 20, 1781.

M93 is one of the smaller but bright open clusters. The stars of this cluster are formed in a triangular shape.
At least about 80 members appear scattered over its 22' apparent diameter, which is of the order of 20-25 light years linearly at its distance of about 3,600 light years.

The brightest stars of M93 are blue giants of type B9, its age has been estimated as roughly 100 million years.
To find M93, find Omicron1 and Omicron2 CMa about 8 deg SE of Sirius, and M93 on the same parallel (declination) as Omicron2 but 10deg E, near Xi Puppis.

 

 

VEDRAN VRHOVAC©

2006.-2007.