NGC2362 - The Tau Canis Majoris Cluster
Brilliant Open Cluster in Canis Major

 

            
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 I consider
            this one of the most spectacular star clusters in the entire
            sky. Located just east of the southern most stars in the constellation,
            this isolated object lies in a very rich field of faint stars.
            Two points of interest make this cluster so stunning both visually
            and photographically. First, is the brilliant 4.4 magnitude star
            located in the clusters center creating a huge beacon of light
            to guide you to this small object. Next, the highly condensed
            nature of NGC2362 and all the matched blue stars seeming to swarm
            around the central stellar hub. In large amateur telescopes this
            object is amazing visually in a medium magnification Nagler eyepiece.
            In my 12.5" the best view was with the 13mm Nagler. 

            
The cluster spans
            6 arc minutes in size, small for this 2.5 degree field here.
            But combined with its brilliant central star, this cluster tops
            out at a whopping 3.8th magnitude! It can be easily seen naked
            eye, but not resolved of course. Megastar lists 60 cluster members
            known.

Optics:  8" f/4 Newtonian Astrograph w/Baader MPCC Coma Corrector
Platform:  Homemade GEM w/Byers Starmaster Drive  
Camera:  Hutech Modified Canon XTi @ ISO800
Exposure:  3 x 5m
Location:  Happy Jack, Arizona
Elevation:  6800 ft.
Sky:  Seeing  8/10, Transparency 8/10  First Quarter Moon
Outside Temperature:  35F
Processing Tools:  Photoshop CS2, Images Plus 3.82
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