Messier 50

Object:   M50 (NGC 2323) Date:               2019 February 26
Type:              Open cluster
Constellation:           Monoceros Time & altitude:        21.00 UT     30º
Catalogue data: Seeing (5 high):                               4/5
            R.A:                7h 03m Transparency (5 high):                   4/5
            Dec:                -8º 23 Telescope:     0.5m f4.1  Dob.
            Magnitude     5.9 Eyepiece       17mm Ethos              x120
            Size (mins)    16 Filters:            None

Notes:

In the 50mm finder this cluster looks grainy, indicating the stars are loosely packed. The cluster fills about a quarter of the 50 arcmin field of the 17mm Ethos. The surrounding sky background is quite rich, so the cluster doesn’t really stand out. Burnham’s Handbook refers to a noticeable red star 7 mins S of the cluster centre. My eyes do not usually cope well with reds, and this star didn’t stand out for me.