NGC 2302

NGC 2302
NGC 2302
	NGC 2302 imaged by Pan-STARRS
Observation data
Right ascension	06h 51m 53.67s
Declination	−07° 04′ 54.8″
Distance	3.78 ± 0.26 kly (1.16 ± 0.08 kpc)
Apparent dimensions (V)	30′
Physical characteristics
Mass	333±48 M☉
Radius	17 ly (5.1 pc)
Estimated age	80 ± 20 Myr
Associations
Constellation	Monoceros
	See also: Open cluster, List of open clusters

NGC 2302 (also called NGC 2299) is an open cluster in the constellation Monoceros. It was discovered on March 4, 1785, by William Herschel (and later listed as NGC 2302) and separately on January 19, 1828 by John Herschel (and later listed as NGC 2299).

A low-mass open cluster, NGC 2302 has a stellar mass of about 333 times that of the Sun. NGC 2302 is about 80 million years old. Based on Gaia parallaxes, NGC 2302 is about 3,800 light-years (1,160 parsecs) away from the Sun. With an apparent radius of 15′, this corresponds to a physical radius of about 17 light-years (5.1 parsecs).

References

1 2 "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED) results for object NGC 2302". NASA/IPAC. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Lee, Yuna; Hong, Jongsuk; Lim, Beomdu (2026). "Kinematics and Dynamics of the Open Cluster NGC 2302". Journal of the Korean Astronomical Society. 59 (2): 367–377. arXiv:2608.18550. Bibcode:2026JKAS...59..367L. doi:10.5303/JKAS.2026.59.2.367.
↑ "NGC 2302". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
1 2 "New General Catalog Objects: NGC 2300 - 2349". cseligman.com. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
1 2 "New General Catalog Objects: NGC 2250 - 2299". cseligman.com. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
↑ Costa, Edgardo; Moitinho, André; Radiszc, Matías; Muñoz, Ricardo R.; Carraro, Giovanni; Vázquez, Ruben A.; Servajean, Elise (August 2015). "Insights into the properties of the Local (Orion) spiral arm. NGC 2302: First results and description of the program". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 580: A4. arXiv:1505.01872. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201525784. ISSN 0004-6361.

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[NED_NGC2302-1] 1 2 "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED) results for object NGC 2302". NASA/IPAC. Retrieved 2026-04-10.

[Lee-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lee, Yuna; Hong, Jongsuk; Lim, Beomdu (2026). "Kinematics and Dynamics of the Open Cluster NGC 2302". Journal of the Korean Astronomical Society. 59 (2): 367–377. arXiv:2608.18550. Bibcode:2026JKAS...59..367L. doi:10.5303/JKAS.2026.59.2.367.

[3] "NGC 2302". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2026-04-10.

[:0-4] 1 2 "New General Catalog Objects: NGC 2300 - 2349". cseligman.com. Retrieved 2026-04-10.

[:1-5] 1 2 "New General Catalog Objects: NGC 2250 - 2299". cseligman.com. Retrieved 2026-04-10.

[6] Costa, Edgardo; Moitinho, André; Radiszc, Matías; Muñoz, Ricardo R.; Carraro, Giovanni; Vázquez, Ruben A.; Servajean, Elise (August 2015). "Insights into the properties of the Local (Orion) spiral arm. NGC 2302: First results and description of the program". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 580: A4. arXiv:1505.01872. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201525784. ISSN 0004-6361.