NGC 2232

NGC 2232
NGC 2232 (taken from Stellarium)
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Right ascension06h 27m 15s[1]
Declination–04° 45′ 30″[1]
Distance1,060 ly (325 pc)[2]
Apparent magnitude (V)3.9[3]
Apparent dimensions (V)30′[3]
Physical characteristics
Mass< 100[4] M☉
Radius~15 ly[4]
Estimated age30.9 Myr[2]
Other designationsCr 93, C 0624-047[5]
Associations
ConstellationMonoceros
See also: Open cluster, List of open clusters
Map showing the location of NGC 2232

NGC 2232 is a bright open star cluster in the equatorial constellation of Monoceros, centered on the star 10 Monocerotis.[3] It is located in the Gould Belt close to the Orion Nebula cluster,[6] at a mean distance of 1,060 ly from the Sun.[2] The average radial velocity of the cluster members is 26.6±0.77 km/s.[7] This is one of the nearest open clusters to the Sun, which makes it a potentially useful target for studying young stars and their transition to the main sequence.[8]

The cluster has an angular radius of 36′ and a core angular radius of 7.2′. It is a sparse cluster with twenty high–probability members.[2] This is considered a super-solar cluster, with the components generally having a higher abundance of iron compared to the Sun. The mean metallicity is 0.22±0.09 or 0.32±0.08, depending on what assumptions are made.[7] At least four cluster members display an infrared excess at a wavelength of 8μm that is suggestive of warm dust, while the A-type star HD 45435 displays a strong excess at 24μm. The latter may indicate the star is in an early evolutionary state.[6] Only one member of the cluster appears to be chemically peculiar.[9]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Wu2009 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference Kharchenko2005 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference nightsky was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Finlay2006 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference SIMBAD was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Currie2008 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Monroe2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Orban2004 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Jenkner1987 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).