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NGC 2451A

Component of NGC 2451 or Collinder 161

Open Cluster in Puppis

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Proper Name	None
Messier Number	None
NGC/IC Number	NGC 2451A (a component cluster of NGC 2451)
Other Designations	One of a pair of clusters jointly catalogued as Collinder 161
Constellation	Puppis
Right Ascension	7h 42m 57s
Declination	-38° 15' 50"
Distance	636 light years 195 parsecs
Magnitude	Apparent: +2.70 Absolute: -3.75
Diameter	Apparent: 2° Actual: 22 light years
Number of Stars	c. 800
Optimum Visibility	January / February

The grouping of stars in this image was originally classified as a single cluster, Collinder 161 or NGC 2451. They are now recognised as belonging to two separate clusters overlaid on one another in the sky, with NGC 2451A representing the nearer of the two. NGC 2451B lies on a similar line of sight (though slightly to the northeast of NGC 2451A) and is approximately twice as far from the Sun at a distance of some 1,200 light years. Imagery provided by Aladin sky atlas

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