NGC 2266 is an open cluster[5] of stars in the constellation of Gemini. It was discovered by German-British astronomer William Herschel on 7 December 1785.[6] This is a relatively dim cluster with an integrated visual magnitude of 9.5 and an angular size of 5.0′. The stellar members can be readily resolved with an amateur telescope.[3] NGC 2266 is located at a distance of 10,603 ly (3,251.0 pc) from the Sun.[2] It is located close to the opposite part of the sky from the Galactic Center, or the anti-center.[7]
This is a rich cluster that is well condensed.[8] It is of intermediate age; similar to the ages of the Hyades and Praesepe clusters. However, it has a lower metallicity than either cluster.[7] NGC 2266 has a heliocentric radial velocity of −16±15 km/s.[9] A 2008 study found 12 variable stars in the field of this cluster, although they lie outside the cluster radius.[8] A single candidate blue straggler has been identified.[10]
^"Open cluster NGC 2266". WEBDA, A site Devoted to Stellar Clusters in the Galaxy and the Magellanic Clouds. University of Vienna. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
^ abKaluzny, Janusz; Mazur, Beata (1991). "The Hyades age anticenter cluster NGC 2266". Acta Astronautica. 41: 191–212. Bibcode:1991AcA....41..191K.
^ abMaciejewski, G.; et al. (2008). "Photometric Study of Open Clusters NGC 2266 and NGC 7762". Baltic Astronomy. 17: 51–65. Bibcode:2008BaltA..17...51M.
^Carrera, R. (August 2012). "Radial velocities and metallicities from infrared Ca II triplet spectroscopy of open clusters Berkeley 26, Berkeley 70, NGC 1798, and NGC 2266". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 544. id. A109. arXiv:1207.3244. Bibcode:2012A&A...544A.109C. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201219625.
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