NGC 2192, Open Star Cluster
NGC 2192 is an open star cluster in the constellation Auriga, which was discovered by F.W. Herschel on New Year's Eve 1788 and is around 12-13,000
light-years away from Earth. It has an apparent diameter of around 5' and a magnitude of 10.9mag.
The true diameter of NGC 2192 can be calculated to be around 14 light-years. From the apparent brightness and the distance, the true brightness is
M= -1.9mag, which corresponds to a luminosity of 510 suns. The age of the cluster is given as 2 billion years.
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In my 20" f/3 telescope, NGC 2192 appears as a faint, star-rich cluster that glitters like fine stardust. At a magnification of 210...270x, around 50-60 stars
of varying brightness can be seen in the eyepiece. They have a brightness of 14...15mag and fainter. The northern part of the cluster appears more prominent,
where it is also flanked by two bright, yellowish stars.
A very splendid object for clear winter nights. :)
