Observation by Graeme Coates: NGC 869 and NGC 884 - The Double Cluster...

Uploaded by

Graeme Coates

Observer

Graeme Coates

Observed

2020 Jan 02 - 11:03

Uploaded

2020 Jan 02 - 11:06

Objects

NGC884
NGC869

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Constellation

Perseus

Field centre

RA: 02^h20^m
Dec: +57°09'
Position angle: -89°10'

Field size

2°27' × 1°50'

Equipment

Skywatcher Esprit ED80
SBIG STF8300

Exposure

5.9 Hrs combined LRGB

Location

EEYE

Target name

NGC 869 & NGC 884 - The Double Cluster

Title

NGC 869 and NGC 884 - The Double Cluster

About this image

Also known as h and χ Persei, the Double Cluster (comprising NGC 869 and NGC 884) is a "line of sight" pairing in the constellation in Perseus, though actually they are only a few hundred light years apart. The clusters have a combined visual magnitude of 3.7 and 3.8 and are visible to the naked eye as a fuzzy patch between Perseus and Cassiopeia.

NGC 869 has a mass of 3700 solar masses and NGC 884 weighs in at 2800 solar masses; the total mass for the complex is estimated in excess of 20,000 solar masses when including an extensive halo of stars. Based on their individual stars, the clusters are relatively young, both 12.8 million years old, with the hottest stars having spectral class B0; NGC884 also has 5 prominent red supergiants including variable RS Per (closest to the centre of the lower cluster).

Image acquisition: Graeme Coates & Paul Tribe
Processing: Graeme Coates

Files associated with this observation

DoubleCluster_baa.jpg (1.8 MB)

Like this image

Mr John William Hughes, Clive Nanson, Dr Paul Leyland, Ray Emery, Graham Winstanley, Jeremy Shears, Ron Johnson, Callum Potter, Andrew Dumbleton, Peter Carson

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