Located in the
constellation of Hydra, M48 is an open cluster of about 80
stars. 50 of these are brighter than magnitude 13 and are easily
visible in binoculars and small telescopes. The cluster is
easily visible to the naked eye under ideal observing
conditions. M48 is about 23 light-years in diameter and is
located some 1,500 light-years from Earth. Its age is estimated
at about 300 million years.
