Messier 50 (M 50)

Introduction | Map | My Best Own Photos | My Own Observations | References || Appendix: My Own Photos

On this page I collect my observations of the open star cluster M 50 (NGC 2323) in the constellation Monoceros/Unicorn.

Introduction

The constellation Monoceros/Unicorn is also one of the constellation that were unknown to me. It contains the open star cluster M 50, according to Stoyan, a brilliant bright cluster, which I can confirm. Stoyan even writes of a "jewel of the winter sky," which is wrongly often ignored.

A little farther away (to the South), but still close, there is the galactic nebula IC 2177 (Seagull Nebula), which can be observed together with M 50 in a Vespera mosaic.

Map

The open star cluster M 50 in the constellation Monoceros/Unicorn (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

The open star cluster M 50 with the galactic nebula IC 2177 (Seagull Nebula) in the constellation Monoceros, detail (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

My Best Own Photos

Atik Infinity & Explorer 150PDS (April 6, 2018)

M 50 (Monoceros), unprocessed		Ditto, post-processed		Ditto, post-processed and sharpened

Photos taken with Sky-Watcher Explorer 150PDS (April 6, 2018), originals reduced to 600 x 450 pixels; confirmed using Karkoschka, www.astroimages.de/de/gallery/M50.html, and All sky plate solver.

Sony RX10 M4 (February 12, 2021)

M 50 with Sony RX10 M4, ISO 6400		M 50 with Sony RX10 M4, ISO 6400, processed
M 50 with Sony RX10 M4, ISO, 12 photos stacked in Affinity Photo (average)		M 50 with Sony RX10 M4, 12 photos stacked in Affinity Photo (average), processed

Photo data: M mode with 1 s and f/4, 600 mm, ISO 6400, long-time noise suppression off, manual focus

eVscope

M 50 - Mar 14, 2020		M 50 - Mar 18, 2020		M 50 - Feb 17, 2021
M 50 - Mar 14, 2020, processed		M 50 - Mar 18, 2020, processed		M 50 - Feb 17, 2021, photo left processed

Vespera

M 50

M 50, Mar 26, 2024 - original, 930s		M 50, Mar 26, 2024 - large, photo left processed

M 50 and IC 2177

M 50 and IC 2177, Feb 12, 2023 - original, large mosaic, 3430s		M 50 and IC 2177, Feb 12, 2023 - large, photo left processed

Vespera Pro

M 50, Mar 5, 2025 - 2000, 1820s		M 50, Mar 5, 2025 - 2000, 1820s photo left processed

My Own Observations

Observations End of March 2017

• March 28, 2017 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Heritage P130 on GoTo mount, GSD 680): M 50 beautifully seen, nicer than M 48, filled the view (16 mm eypiece)

Observations March/April 2018

• March 14, 2018 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Explorer 150PDS on GoTo mount, StarSense): M 50 found visually
• March 14, 2018 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Explorer 150PDS on GoTo mount, Atik Infinity, StarSense): M 50 photographed, but missed...
• March 24, 2018 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Explorer 150PDS on GoTo mount, StarSense): M 50 found visually
• April 6, 2018 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Explorer 150PDS on GoTo mount, Atik Infinity, StarSense): M 50 photographed (and confirmed)
• April 6, 2018 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Explorer 150PDS on GoTo mount, Atik Infinity, StarSense): M 50 photographed, but missed

Observations February 2019

• February 27, 2019 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: PS 72/432 on AZ Pronto Mount, TS binoculars): M 50 faint, also in TS binoculars.

Observations February to March 2020

• February 17 and 19, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 50 photographed
• March 12, 14, and 18, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 50 photographed (poor on Mar 12)

Observations January to February 2021

• February 12, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: RX10 M4 on AZ-GTi): M 50 photographed (1 s), partly stacked in Affinity Photo
• February 13, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: C5 on AZ-GTi): M 50 observed after some obstacles...
• February 17, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 50 photographed in the new rectangular format without overlay

Observations March 2022

• March 20, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope 2): M 50 photographed

Observations February 2023

• February 12, 2023 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera): M 50 photographed as a mosaic together with IC 2177

Observations March 2024

• March 26, 2023 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera): M 50 photographed

Observations March 2025

• March 5, 2025 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera): M 50 photographed (30 min)

References

• Messier Catalogue - Messier 50: messier.seds.org/m/m050.html
• Astroimages.de (Siggi Kohlert) - Messier 50: www.astroimages.de/de/gallery/M50.html
• Messier 50 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_50
• IC 2177 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IC_2177

On this Site

• Sky-Watcher Heritage P130 Information (5" Dobson)
• Sky-Watcher Explorer 150PDS Information (6" Newton)
• Omegon Photography Scope 72/432 ED OTA Information (2.8" Refractor)
• Celestron C5 OTA Information (5" Schmidt-Cassegrain)
• Unistellar eVscope Information
• Unistellar eVscope 2 Information
• Vaonis Vespera - Information
• Vaonis Vespera Pro - Information
• Sky-Watcher AZ Pronto Mount Information
• Sky-Watcher AZ-GTi AZ GoTo Mount Information
• Sky-Watcher Star Discovery AZ GoTo Mount Information
• Celestron StarSense AutoAlign for Sky-Watcher Information
• Atik Infinity Colour Camera - Information
• My Binoculars

Appendix: My Own Photos

Atik Infinity & Explorer 150PDS (April 6, 2018)

M 50 (Monoceros), unprocessed		Ditto, post-processed		Ditto, post-processed and sharpened

Photos taken with Sky-Watcher Explorer 150PDS (April 6, 2018), originals reduced to 600 x 450 pixels; confirmed using Karkoschka, www.astroimages.de/de/gallery/M50.html, and All sky plate solver.

Sony RX10 M4 (February 12, 2021)

M 50 with Sony RX10 M4, ISO 6400		M 50 with Sony RX10 M4, ISO 6400, processed
M 50 with Sony RX10 M4, ISO, 12 photos stacked in Affinity Photo (average)		M 50 with Sony RX10 M4, 12 photos stacked in Affinity Photo (average), processed

Photo data: M mode with 1 s and f/4, 600 mm, ISO 6400, long-time noise suppression off, manual focus

eVscope

M 50 - Feb 17, 2020		M 50 - Feb 19, 2020		M 50 - Feb 19, 2020, processed
M 50 - Mar 12, 2020		M 50 - Mar 14, 2020		M 50 - Mar 18, 2020
		M 50 - Mar 14, 2020, processed		M 50 - Mar 18, 2020, processed
M 50 - Feb 17, 2021		M 50 - Feb 17, 2021, photo left processed

eVscope 2

M 50 - Mar 20, 2022		M 50 - Mar 20, 2022, photo left processed

Vespera

M 50

M 50, Mar 26, 2024 - original, 930s		M 50, Mar 26, 2024 - large, photo left processed

M 50 and IC 2177

M 50 and IC 2177, Feb 12, 2023 - original, large mosaic, 3430s		M 50 and IC 2177, Feb 12, 2023 - large, photo left processed

Vespera Pro

M 50, Mar 5, 2025 - 2000, 1820s		M 50, Mar 5, 2025 - 2000, 1820s, photo left processed