| NGC 2281 | |
|---|---|
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Constellation | Auriga |
| Right ascension | 06h 48.3m |
| Declination | +41° 05′ |
| Distance | 1819.08 ly (558 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 5.4 |
| Apparent dimensions (V) | 15′ |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Estimated age | 300 million |
| Other designations | C 0645+411, Cr 116, Mel 51, OCL-446 |
| See also: Open cluster, List of open clusters | |
NGC 2281 is an open cluster in Auriga constellation. NGC 2281 is a medium sized, well detached, but poor open cluster in Auriga. It is visible in the 35mm Panoptic but the optimum magnification is achieved with the 17mm Nagler (94x). The stars are arranged in several small groupings and asterisms. The cluster has no central star. The different clumps of stars are arranged in a more or less crooked line starting in the north, with a bright yellow-orange star, going south and then bend of to the east. There are dark areas, and there is no glow visible from unresolved stars or any other nebulosity.