NGC 2204 — Open Cluster in Canis Major
Good (53/100)
Observe
1Properties
Magnitude
8.6
Angular Size
6.3′
Cl, L, pRi, lC
Querying SIMBAD database...
Position & Identifiers
2How easy to spot?
Sign in
and configure your equipment and default location to see a personalized row.
| Telescope | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 mm refractor 80mm refr. | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| 150 mm Newton 150mm Newt. | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm | Easy | Easy | Easy |
Easy
Medium
Hard
Very hard
Impossible
Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs
Easy
on Seestar S50
3Visibility
Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.
Best season
Nov – Jan
(peak: Dec)
4
Eyepiece View
5
Best Magnification
Explore
6
Classification Decoder
Nearby in the Sky
Other targets within a few degrees — pan your scope a little and keep exploring.
Visibility scores assume a 150 mm Newton at Bortle 4.
Murzim
Beta CMa
Hot blue O-type star
Double Star
mag 1.98
1.8°
Canis Major
NGC 2179
Bright spiral galaxy
Galaxy
mag 12.5
3.5°
Lepus
S Lep
Semi-regular variable, range 6.0–7.6
Variable Star
mag 6.95
6.0°
Lepus
M41
Little Beehive Cluster
Rich open cluster
Open Cluster
mag 4.5
7.5°
Canis Major
Explore Nightbase
Related knowledge, tools, and stories — no observation planning required.
The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram — Reading Stars Like a Map
The HR diagram turns the night sky into a physics map: every named star has a spot, every spot tells you mass, age, and fate. A guide for amateur observers.
Article
Canis Major
Mythology, bright stars, and deep-sky highlights.
Constellation
Jupiter
The Great Red Spot, cloud belts, and the Galilean moons.
Deep dive