NGC 2477 = Awesome

[pgc hunter]

Anyone observe this open cluster in Puppis? I chanced upon it while sweeping the area with the 120st and my jaw just dropped to the ground. Extraordinarily rich collection of tiny pinpoints, which surprisingly I've never heard or read about anywhere. No doubt this is due to its southerly declination. I actually thought it was a loose globular until I checked the map.

As an added bonus, NGC 2451 (not a true cluster) lies immediately to the west and is just gorgeous in a low power wide field with several very bright blue stars with a couple of orange ones thrown in.

I haven't seen it with a larger scope, but it takes pole position on my 10" dob hit list when the omnipresent Melbourne Cloud goes away.

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Hey Sab.
Observed it back in December. Heres my notes:

3/12/09
Seeing POOR (Moon affected)
Instrument 12” Dobsonion F5
NGC2477 (Caldwell 71) Time 11-00pm. Located Eta Canis Majoris by naked eye. Using finder located crooked line of bright stars to South East, then moved in same direction to F Puppis, then used finder to see two clusters in same general direction. These cluster were NGC 2451 and the wide triple d Puppis. Two clearly visible stars to South East of NGC 2451 about 4.5 mag. Most easterly star is b Puppis. Centering finder on this star then scanned North with 24mm EP until very faint glow detected. Cluster is not immediately evident in poor seeing conditions, required 3-4 seconds of looking before stars became evident. No bright stars but very large number of faint stars. Seems to be slightly extended East-West with a trail of very slightly brighter stars showing to east. Higher power (13mm at 115x) revealed many more stars. Once object has culminated and is in darker skies, should be a glorious object.
And here's my note on NGC 2451:


NGC2451 Time 11-20pm. This object briefly visited above. Very open cluster of several brighter stars. Most obvious star is 3.6mag c Puppis. This star has very distinct red/orange glow. Spectral class K4III confirms this observation.
I was doing a few OC's at the time due to moon, must go back and have another look at the new moon after Easter!

[Lismore Bloke (Paul)]

I thought those 2 sounded familiar. This is from my Puppis I post Jan 18:

NGC 2451 – 7h 45.4m - -37.48 – Size: 45’ – Mag: 2.8
This is a large and bright cluster in a nice field, easily filling the field of the Nagler 22. Prominent is the bright orange star c Puppis, contrasting beautifully with the rest of the cluster.

NGC 2477 - 7h 52.3 - -38.33 – Size 27’ – Mag. 5.8
This cluster is smaller and fainter than 2451, but very attractive. The stars are quite numerous and seem to be in curved arrangements with dark gaps between. The central half of the group is somewhat denser in concentration. Looks a bit like a diffuse globular.

I saw some of Sab's Melbourne cloud when I was down there for step daughter's wedding last week. Not nice and the Department of Wildfires also making a mess of the sky as well. Yukkkk!!