NGC 2409 (also Lund 1128 and Bochum 4) is a group of eight stars located 7,470 light-years away in the constellation Puppis. The cluster or asterism can be found about 11° to the east of Sirius, 2.5 degrees to the south-west of M47, in the very rich star-fields belonging to the Perseus Arm. The components are magnitude 8 - 10 and just at the limit of a 10x50 binoculars. The stars can be easily resolved with a 120mm telescope using a high magnification. In the northern part of the cluster there is a red star, which contrasts nicely with the several other blue stars. The presence of the blue components show it is a very young cluster, with an age estimated at only 10 million years. Just to the northeast of the cluster is a diffuse emission nebula known as Sh2-302. The Southern declination of the asterism slightly favours observers in the Southern Hemisphere. The best time to observe is in the evening sky is between December and April.
The asterism was discovered by British astronomer John Herschel using a 47.5 cm (18.7 inch) reflecting telescope at the Cape of Good Hope on the 12th February 1836.
Right Ascension 07h 31m 36.7s, Declination -17° 11' 23"
