Object Type | Open Cluster |
Constellation | Hydra |
Magnitude | 5.8 |
Size | 30.0' x 30.0' |
M 48 was originally one of the "missing" Messier objects. There is no object located at the position given by Messier. However, as a result of some detective work by Oswald Thomas in 1934, it was realised that Messier had made a mistake in his data reduction, confusing the sign in determining the declination, and that the object listed by Messier as object 48 was really NGC 2548, some 5 degrees north of Messier's position.
M 48 is a bright, large and scattered open cluster in Hydra, close to the Monoceros border. It is best viewed with binoculars or a low magnification telescope.