NGC 2548 - Open Star Cluster
Feb 2026
Messier 48 (M48) is an open star cluster located in the constellation Hydra. It lies at a distance of roughly 1,500 light-years from Earth and spans about 20–25 light-years in diameter. The cluster contains several dozen stars and has an estimated age of 300–500 million years, making it moderately evolved for an open cluster. With an apparent magnitude of around 5.8, M48 is visible with binoculars under dark skies and resolves well into individual stars in small telescopes.
Lights
| Filter | SV260 MultiBroadband |
|---|---|
| Lights | 22 |
| Single Exposure | 300 sec |
| Total Exposure | 1 hr 50 min |
| Gain | 101 |
| Offset | 200 |
| Temp (°C) | -10.0 °C |
Equipment
| Camera | Omegon VeTec571c |
|---|---|
| Telescope | Omegon Ritchey-Chretien Pro RC203/1624 |
| Guide Camera | ZWO ASI174MM Mini |
| Guider | Off-Axis Guider SV238 | Svbony |
| Mount | ZWO AM5N |
| Tripod | ZWO Carbon Fiber Tripod TC40 |
| Filter Wheel | Svbony SV266P |
| Eaf | Gemini Automatic Star Focuser Pro |
| Flat Panel | WELZK A3 Light Pad |
Weighted Exposure
| Red Channel | 1 hr 15 min |
|---|---|
| Green Channel | 1 hr 12 min |
| Blue Channel | 1 hr 11 min |
| Total | 1 hr 13 min |
Nights
| Capture Dates | Moon Illumination |
|---|---|
| 07 February 2026 | Waning Gibbous (73.18%) |
Software
| Acquisition | |
|---|---|
| Processing |
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