by Anthony Ayiomamitis
The open cluster NGC 2301 in Monoceros illustrated above is within a few degrees of two other bright and large open clusters (NGC 2286 and 2324) and to the immediate west of δ-Monocerotis (mag 4.14). Lying at a distance of 2,450-2,840 light-years away (depending on the source), NGC 2301 is estimated to be 160 million years old. Comprised of approximately 100 member stars spanning approximately 14 arc-minutes in diameter, this cluster is well detached from the background sky owing to the fair number of bright member stars running vertically. NGC 2301 is best observed during winter and early spring when it is above the southern meridian at the end of astronomical twilight and thereafter.
Technical Details:
Date: Jan 26, 2011 @ 20:15 - 22:20 UT+2
Location: Athens, Greece (38.2997° N, 23.7430° E)
Equipment: AP 160 f/7.5 StarFire EDF, AP 1200GTO GEM, SBIG ST-10XME, SBIG AO-8, SBIG CFW10, SBIG LRGB + IR-block
Integrations: LRGB @ 30:30:30:30 using 3-/6-min subs, 1x1 binning, 1.16" per pixel, CCD @ -30.0° C
Further Details: http://www.perseus.gr/Astro-DSO-NGC-2301.htm