Target guide · open cluster
M46 with a smart telescope
M46 is a open cluster about 27 arcminutes (0.45°) across, magnitude 6.1. It is highest around midnight in January, well placed from both hemispheres, and bright enough to image from a suburb or even a city. Of the 12 smart telescopes we track, Origin Mark II, Seestar S50, DWARF mini frame it best.
Key facts
| Catalogue | M46 |
|---|---|
| Type | open cluster |
| Apparent size | 27′ × 27′ |
| Magnitude | 6.1 |
| Position (J2000) | RA 7.70 h, Dec -14.8° |
| Highest at midnight | January (±2 weeks) |
| Sky needed | City-friendly |
In the best-matching frame
Imaging tips
Star clusters and star groups are bright and forgiving: they show well from a city and need only short sessions. A wider field of view shows the whole group with some surrounding sky. M46 is one of the easier targets from light-polluted skies.
Which smart telescope frames it best
| Telescope | Field of view | Fit |
|---|---|---|
| Celestron Origin Mark II | 1.32° × 0.75° | fits well |
| ZWO Seestar S50 | 1.29° × 0.73° | fits well |
| DWARFLAB DWARF mini | 2.13° × 1.2° | fits well |
| ZWO Seestar S30 | 2.14° × 1.21° | fits well |
| ZWO Seestar S50 Pro | 2.45° × 1.38° | fits well |
| Vaonis Vespera II | 2.5° × 1.4° | fits well |
| Vaonis Vespera 3 | 2.5° × 1.4° | fits well |
| Unistellar Odyssey | 0.75° × 0.56° | fits well |
| Unistellar Odyssey Pro | 0.75° × 0.56° | fits well |
| Vaonis Vespera Pro 2 | 1.6° × 1.6° | fits well |
| DWARFLAB DWARF 3 | 2.93° × 1.65° | fits well |
| ZWO Seestar S30 Pro | 3.99° × 2.24° | fits well |
How high it gets from where you live
Highest altitude above a flat horizon. Below about 20° the image suffers from haze and light pollution; trees and roofs often block it completely.
| Latitude | Highest altitude |
|---|---|
| Oslo, 60° N | 15° |
| Amsterdam, 52° N | 23° |
| Madrid, 40° N | 35° |
| Miami, 26° N | 49° |
| Equator | 75° |
| Sydney, 34° S | 71° |
Nearby in the sky
Objects close to M46 in the sky, so you can image them in the same session.
Questions and answers
- Can I photograph M46 from a city?
- Yes. It is bright enough to image from a suburb or even a city.
- Which smart telescope is best for M46?
- Origin Mark II, Seestar S50, DWARF mini frame it best in a single frame, based on its size and each telescope's field of view.
- When is the best time to photograph M46?
- It is highest around midnight in January and well placed from both hemispheres. From 52° north it climbs to about 23° at most.