Just another area full of stars - with some nice open clusters.
Messier 103, also known as NGC 581 (bottom right) is a small open cluster of many faint stars in Cassiopeia. It was discovered on 27 March 1781 by Pierre Méchain, but later added as Charles Messier's last deep-sky object in his catalogue.
It is located 9,400 light-years from the Sun and is about 15 light years across. It holds two prominent stars, of which the brightest is magnitude 10.5, and in the centre of the cluster, another magnitude 10.8 red giant. Another bright foreground object is the double star Struve 131 but is not a member of the cluster. Cluster membership is about 172 stars based on >50% probability of gravitational attachment that binds the cluster together. M103 is between 12.6 to 25 million years in age.
NGC 663 (just left of centre) - (also known as Caldwell 10), is a young open cluster. It has an estimated 400 stars and spans about a quarter of a degree across the sky. It can reportedly be detected with the unaided eye, although a telescope is recommended for best viewing. The brightest members of the cluster can be viewed with binoculars. Although the listed visual magnitude is 7.1, several observers have reported higher estimates.
IC 166 (upper left) is about 1 billion years old (give or take 200 million years) and while this makes it quite a lot older than most, it is classified as an 'intermediate' age cluster. Due to disruption to members as the cluster orbits the galaxy, not many clusters reach the grand old age of a billion. However, IC 166 sits beyond the Perseus arm of the galaxy at a distance of 4.3 kpc from us, or 12.7 kpc from the centre of the galaxy, and it is hypothesised that disruptive effects are lower in the outer disc so chances of survival are higher.
NGC 654 (top centre) was discovered by William Herschel in 1787. With apparent magnitude 6.5, it can be observed by binoculars.
NGC 659 (bottom centre) was discovered by Caroline Herschel in 1783.
Imaging telescope: Takahashi FSQ130ED
Imaging camera: ASI 2600MM
Mount: JTW Trident P75
Guiding telescope: Takahashi FS60CB
Guiding camera: QHY 5 II
Focal Extender / Reducer: 0.73X
Software: Sequence Generator Pro SGP (for capture) PHD 2 (guiding), Astro Pixel Processor, PixInsight.
Filters: Astrodon Ha (3nm), Astrodon RGB.
Accessories: Robofocus Focuser controlled by Lunatico Armadillo, ATIK EFW 3, RB Focus Gaius, RB Focus Excalibur.
Dates: 15th Dec. - 16th Dec. 2024
Frames: (Total)
Astrodon Ha 18 x 600"
Astrodon Red 60 x 60"
Astrodon Green 60 x 60"
Astrodon Blue 60x60"
Total integration = 6 Hours.
Center (RA, Dec): (25.717, 61.249)
Center (RA, hms): 01h 42m 52.110s
Center (Dec, dms): +61° 14' 54.667"
Size: 2.75 x 1.83 deg
Radius: 1.654 deg
Pixel scale: 1.63 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: Up is 355.8 degrees E of N
Messier 103, also known as NGC 581 (bottom right) is a small open cluster of many faint stars in Cassiopeia. It was discovered on 27 March 1781 by Pierre Méchain, but later added as Charles Messier's last deep-sky object in his catalogue.
It is located 9,400 light-years from the Sun and is about 15 light years across. It holds two prominent stars, of which the brightest is magnitude 10.5, and in the centre of the cluster, another magnitude 10.8 red giant. Another bright foreground object is the double star Struve 131 but is not a member of the cluster. Cluster membership is about 172 stars based on >50% probability of gravitational attachment that binds the cluster together. M103 is between 12.6 to 25 million years in age.
NGC 663 (just left of centre) - (also known as Caldwell 10), is a young open cluster. It has an estimated 400 stars and spans about a quarter of a degree across the sky. It can reportedly be detected with the unaided eye, although a telescope is recommended for best viewing. The brightest members of the cluster can be viewed with binoculars. Although the listed visual magnitude is 7.1, several observers have reported higher estimates.
IC 166 (upper left) is about 1 billion years old (give or take 200 million years) and while this makes it quite a lot older than most, it is classified as an 'intermediate' age cluster. Due to disruption to members as the cluster orbits the galaxy, not many clusters reach the grand old age of a billion. However, IC 166 sits beyond the Perseus arm of the galaxy at a distance of 4.3 kpc from us, or 12.7 kpc from the centre of the galaxy, and it is hypothesised that disruptive effects are lower in the outer disc so chances of survival are higher.
NGC 654 (top centre) was discovered by William Herschel in 1787. With apparent magnitude 6.5, it can be observed by binoculars.
NGC 659 (bottom centre) was discovered by Caroline Herschel in 1783.
Imaging telescope: Takahashi FSQ130ED
Imaging camera: ASI 2600MM
Mount: JTW Trident P75
Guiding telescope: Takahashi FS60CB
Guiding camera: QHY 5 II
Focal Extender / Reducer: 0.73X
Software: Sequence Generator Pro SGP (for capture) PHD 2 (guiding), Astro Pixel Processor, PixInsight.
Filters: Astrodon Ha (3nm), Astrodon RGB.
Accessories: Robofocus Focuser controlled by Lunatico Armadillo, ATIK EFW 3, RB Focus Gaius, RB Focus Excalibur.
Dates: 15th Dec. - 16th Dec. 2024
Frames: (Total)
Astrodon Ha 18 x 600"
Astrodon Red 60 x 60"
Astrodon Green 60 x 60"
Astrodon Blue 60x60"
Total integration = 6 Hours.
Center (RA, Dec): (25.717, 61.249)
Center (RA, hms): 01h 42m 52.110s
Center (Dec, dms): +61° 14' 54.667"
Size: 2.75 x 1.83 deg
Radius: 1.654 deg
Pixel scale: 1.63 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: Up is 355.8 degrees E of N
Sky Map & Finding Chart
Annotated Image (Click on imager to expand)
