NGC 2244

NGC 2244 (also known as C 50) is an open cluster located at the heart of the Rosetta Nebula in the Unicorn.

It is composed of about forty stars of magnitude between the fifth and the twelfth, clearly visible with small amateur instruments; the cluster is made up of hot, blue stars, which denotes a young age of the object, which would have formed inside the Rosetta nebula, in which, moreover, as evidenced by the presence of Bok globules, star formation is still vigorous. The main star is 12 Mon, with a magnitude of 5.9, at the limit of visibility with the naked eye.