NGC 2671

NGC 2671

NGC 2671 is a distinct, young open cluster within our own Milky Way galaxy located in the constellation Vela (the Sails), approximately 1,660 parsecs (about 5,400 light-years) from Earth. It was discovered by astronomer James Dunlop on May 1, 1826. It is located in the very centre of the image.

• Apparent Magnitude: 11.6

• Angular Size: About 5 arcminutes

• Age: Approximately 79 million years

• Classification: According to the Trumpler system, it is classified as I3p, meaning it is a relatively rich cluster with a strong concentration of stars and a wide range of stellar magnitudes.

• Location: Right Ascension 08h 46m 12s, Declination -41° 52' 38"

• Visibility: Best observed from the southern hemisphere; it lies too far south to be visible from most northern latitudes

NGC 2671 is situated within the Gum 15 star-forming region, a bright emission nebula associated with recent star formation. It is also near the Vela Supernova Remnant (bottom right), a large and complex remnant from a supernova explosion that occurred roughly 11,000 years ago. The cluster is embedded in a region of interstellar dust and gas, contributing to its reddened appearance due to interstellar extinction.

Captured on Vespera II for over 33 hours.