Messier 46

Messier 46 (M46) is a open cluster in the constellation Puppis, with an apparent magnitude of 6.1. It is about 5,400 light-years away.

Free to use with credit: Atlas of the Sky (constellationmap.org), CC BY 4.0 · More

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<a href="https://constellationmap.org/messier/m46/"><img src="https://constellationmap.org/img/messier/m46-finder-chart.png" alt="Finder chart for Messier 46 in the constellation Puppis" width="800" height="800" loading="lazy"></a>
<br><small><a href="https://constellationmap.org/messier/m46/">Messier 46</a> · Atlas of the Sky (constellationmap.org), <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY 4.0</a></small>

Facts

Catalog	Messier 46 (M46)
Type	open cluster
Constellation	Puppis
Apparent magnitude	6.1
Distance	about 5,400 light-years
Right ascension	7 h 41.8 min
Declination	−14.81°
Best month	March (at about 9 pm)

Sources: star positions, magnitudes and colors from the Yale Bright Star Catalogue; constellation boundaries and star names from the IAU; areas and distances from Wikidata; stick figures by M. van der Sluys. How the maps are made.

How to find M46

M46 is in Puppis. From 40° N it is highest in the south in March evenings, about 35° up. From 35° S it reaches about 70° in the north. Binoculars show it under a dark sky; a small telescope shows more detail.

Puppis constellation →

Other Messier objects in Puppis

Messier 47 (M47)Messier 93 (M93)

The Messier catalog →

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Messier 46

Facts

How to find M46

Other Messier objects in Puppis

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