Open cluster · Monoceros
NGC 2232 Double Wedge Cluster
mag 3.99.9′ across
About
NGC 2232, the Double Wedge Cluster, is an open cluster of magnitude 3.9 in Monoceros, about 9.9′ across.
How to find it
- NGC 2232 is in the constellation Monoceros.
- Best evenings: around mid-February it is highest at about 9 pm (10 pm in summer time); a month earlier, two hours later.
- Where on Earth: it is seen well, at least 10° up, from south of 75° N.
When it rises and sets tonight, how high it climbs and how much the Moon gets in the way are worked out in your browser for your place.
What you will see
- EyesA hazy patch or a knot of faint stars from a dark site.
- Binoculars (10×50)A small knot of stars, partly resolved.
- Telescope (6–8 inch)Dozens of stars, many sharp and some coloured.
For a dark country sky with no Moon. From a city, faint galaxies and nebulae can disappear completely.
Facts
| Designations | NGC 2232 |
|---|---|
| Type | Open cluster |
| Magnitude | 3.9The smaller the number, the brighter. |
| Apparent size | 9.9′the full Moon is 31′ across |
| Constellation | Monoceros |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 06h 28m 01.1s |
| Declination (J2000) | −04° 50′ 51″ |
Sources and credits
Catalog data: OpenNGC by Mattia Verga, CC BY-SA 4.0, and d3-celestial by Olaf Frohn, BSD 3-Clause. All data sources →