NGC 2477

NGC 2477 (also known as Caldwell 71 or the Termite Hole Cluster^[3]) is an open cluster in the constellation Puppis. It contains about 300 stars,^[4] and was discovered by Abbé Lacaille in 1751.^[4][5] The cluster's age has been estimated at 700 million years.^[4]

NGC 2477
Open cluster NGC 2477 in Puppis
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Right ascension	07h 52m 09.8s[1]
Declination	−38° 32′ 00″[1]
Distance	~ 3600 ly[2] (~ 1100 pc[2])
Apparent magnitude (V)	5.8[1]
Apparent dimensions (V)	27′[1]
Physical characteristics
Other designations	Caldwell 71, Cr 165
Associations
Constellation	Puppis
See also: Open cluster, List of open clusters

Visual appearance

NGC 2477 is a stunning cluster, almost as extensive in the sky as the full moon. It has been called "one of the top open clusters in the sky",^[1] like a highly resolved globular cluster without the dense center characteristic of globular clusters. Burnham notes that several observers have remarked on its richness, and that although it is smaller than M46 (also an open cluster in Puppis), it is richer and more compact.^[2]

Distance

Burnham cites several published distances, ranging from 700 parsecs (2,300 ly) to 1,900 parsecs (6,200 ly), where "ly" is the abbreviation for light year.^[2]