Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 43

NGC
2439
Cr 140
 PYXIS
n
β
NGC
2579

NGC
2546
NGC
2477


Cr 197
Tr 10

Pismis 4
σ
Binocular Highlight by Mathew Wedel
Full Speed Astern!
I
b
NGC
2451
d
Cr 135

i
PUPPIS
f there's one constellation I've given short shrift to
- both as an observer and a writer - it's Puppis,
the Stern of the mythical ship Argo. I dip into Puppis
quite often to take the Messier clusters near its northern
border, but I rarely explore the length and breadth
of this vast, rich constellation. That's a shame,
because Puppis is packed with good stuff.
A prime example is the 2.8-magnitude open clus+20°
β
-20°
ter
NGC 2451. Thanks to its -38° declination, you'll
need an unobstructed southern horizon to take in
this celestial gem, which floats 4° northwest of Zeta
(ζ) Puppis, or Naos. NGC 2451 presents a scattering
of stars between 6th and 9th magnitude around
the 3.6-magnitude red giant c Puppis. In his book
Hidden Treasures, Contributing Editor Stephen James
O'Meara described stars " arranged into weak spiral
arms centered on the core, " and I find that impression
almost inescapable in my 15×70s. In 7× or 10×
binoculars these details are compressed into an
irregular, faintly grainy glitter, but it's a very fetching
cluster - or is it two? Photometric surveys suggest
two condensations of stars here, one about 600 lightyears
away and another twice as far.
There's more to enjoy in the same binocular field.
WHEN TO
-40°
8h
g Sou
USE THE MAP
Late Jan
Early Feb 11 p.m.
Late Feb
Early March 9 p.m.
Late March 9 p.m.*
* Daylight-saving time
10 p.m.
Midnight
About 1½° east-southeast of NGC 2451 is a smaller
and fainter open cluster, 5.8-magnitude NGC 2477.
And just 1° west-southwest of NGC 2451 you'll find
a charming trio of 5th- and 6th-magnitude stars collectively
known as d Puppis. The clusters and clutch
of stars all comfortably fit within a 3° circle, so they're
easily framed in most conventional binoculars.
NGC 2451 makes a fine jumping-off point for
exploring central Puppis. Happy hunting!
¢ Will MATT WEDEL ever get through the observing
targets to be found near his southern horizon? Keep
watching this space!
sk yand tele scope .o r g * MARCH 2025 43
c
5
Mars
Sirius
M41
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CANI S
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NGC
2244
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Moon
Mar 6
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Venus
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M33
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