They are located at around 7,500 light-years away from us and have an apparent magnitude of 3.7 and 3.8 respectively. The clusters are over 7,000 light years distant toward the constellation of Perseus, but are separated by only hundreds of light years. It is just that the cluster has been cataloged as Abell 426. The Double Cluster located in Perseus consists of the open clusters NGC 869 and NGC 884. NGC 869 has a mass of 3700 solar masses and NGC 884 2800 solar masses; so the total mass for the complex is estimated in excess of 20,000 solar masses when including an extensive halo of stars. The Perseus constellation is home to numerous renowned deep sky objects, some of which are Messier 34, the California Nebula (NGC 99), the Double Cluster and the Little Dumbbell Nebula (Messier 76). At a bright magnitude 4.0, it is easy to locate and shows up nicely in binoculars. A Double Star Cluster in Perseus. The clusters are also blueshifted, with NGC 869 approaching Earth at a speed of 39 km/s (24 mi/s) and NGC 884 approaching at a similar speed of 38 km/s (24 mi/s). They are described as being an "awe-inspiring" and "breathtaking" sight, and are often cited as a target in astronomy observer's guides. The clusters are over 7,000 light years distant toward the constellation of Perseus, but are separated by only hundreds of light years. With a declination of 57N, it's circumpolar from many northern locations and therefore never sets. NASA also says that the cluster is actually a part of an even bigger structure known as the Pisces-Perseus supercluster which composed of well over 1000 galaxies. The Double Cluster in the constellation Perseus is a breathtaking pair of star clusters, each containing supergiant suns. Explanation: Some 7,000 light-years away, this pair of open or galactic star clusters is an easy binocular target, a lovely starfield in the northern constellation Perseus. There is much to see here and do enjoy it with a variety of telescopes over the years. The Double Cluster lies just above the “stick” of stars that make up Perseus’s body. FACTS, LOCATION & MAP Perseus is the 24th largest constellation … I’ve imaged the Double Cluster with just about every different scope and camera that I’ve used. In addition to being physically close together, the clusters' ages based on their individual stars are similar - evidence that both clusters were likely a product of the same star-forming region. The Double Cluster (also known as Caldwell 14) consists of the open clusters NGC 869 and NGC 884 (often designated h Persei and χ Persei, respectively), which are close together in the constellation Perseus. A Double Star Cluster in Perseus Explanation: Most star clusters are singularly impressive.Open clusters NGC 869 and NGC 884, however, could be considered doubly impressive. The Double Cluster (also known as Caldwell 14) consists of the open clusters NGC 869 and NGC 884 (often designated h Persei and χ Persei, respectively), which are close together in the constellation Perseus. A Double Star Cluster in Perseus. NGC884 and NGC869 both lie at a distance of 7500 light years. Re: Double Cluster in Perseus - ASI294MM Post by Graeme1858 » Sun Oct 25, 2020 8:14 am jthommes wrote: ↑ Sun Oct 25, 2020 3:57 am There are examples on forums of dark frames that look scary with strong amp glo, but my experience is that the lights calibrate this out completely. 2020. Greek astronomer Hipparchus first catalogued them around 130 B.C, with early celestial cartographers naming them as "h Persei" (NGC 869) and "χ Persei" (NGC 884). The Double Cluster is located in the far northwestern part of Perseus, close to the border with Cassiopeia. The most popular deep-sky target in this constellation is not a Messier object but the Double Cluster in Perseus, NGC 869 and NGC 884. The Double Cluster of Perseus is a pair of star clusters h and χ Persei. Image gallery Although easy to locate in the northern sky, observing the Double Cluster in its two parts requires optical aid. In the early 19th century William Herschel was the first to recognize the object as two separate clusters. Tonight, find the gorgeous Double Cluster in the constellation Perseus. 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. [citation needed], Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Double_Cluster&oldid=988676700, Astronomical objects known since antiquity, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2010, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 14 November 2020, at 16:29. Due to his great accomplishments, the gods placed Perseus among the stars, with the head of Medusa in one hand and the jewelled sword in the other. Home. Both visible with the naked eye, NGC 869 and NGC 884 lie at a distance of 7,500 light years.[1]. www.eyesonthesky.com The Double Cluster is one of the best sights to see in the autumn sky. Both are very similar to each other in size, magnitude, and age. 2020. The Double Cluster lies at a distance of 7500 light years from Earth. The Double Cluster is located in the far northwestern part of Perseus, close to the border with Cassiopeia. It is in proximity to the constellation Cassiopeia. The Double Cluster (Caldwell 14) is the common name for the naked-eye open clusters NGC884 and NGC869 (often designated Chi Persei and H Persei, respectively), which are close together in the constellation Perseus. Observing sections It is considered a sky jewel, although, it is not visible to the naked eye. For more information, please, Supporting amateur astronomers since 1890, © The British Astronomical Association 2020, The BAA's Commission for Dark Skies (CfDS). Both visible with the naked eye, NGC 869 and NGC 884 lie at a … 117572 The Double Cluster (also known as Caldwell 14) consists of the open clusters NGC 869 and NGC 884 (often designated h Persei and χ Persei, respectively), which are close together in the constellation Perseus. Guided SW Alt-Az EQ6 with Orion 60mm, and NexGuide. [2] Based on their individual stars, the clusters are relatively young, both 12.8 million years old. The clusters are over 7,000 light years distant toward the constellation of Perseus, but are separated by only hundreds of light years. Also visible to the unaided eye from dark sky areas, it was cataloged in 130 BC by Greek astronomer Hipparchus. It is sometimes claimed that Bayer could not have resolved the pair into two patches of nebulosity, and that χ refers to the Double Cluster and h to a nearby star. 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 Double Cluster, or Caldwell 14, is the name for two open clusters – NGC 869 and NGC 884 – located close together in Perseus constellation. Click image for full size version. Stars RS Persei and T Persei. Both visible with the naked eye, NGC 869 and NGC 884 lie at a distance of 7,500 light years. The Double Cluster lies just above the “stick” of stars that make up Perseus’s body. Facts about Perseus Constellation Perseus Cluster Facts: 6-10. This pair of open clusters lie about 7,000 light-years away from Earth. NGC 869 has a mass of 3,700 solar masses and NGC 884 weighs in at 2,800 solar masses; however, later research has shown both clusters are surrounded with a very extensive halo of stars, with a total mass for the complex of at least 20,000 solar masses. 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. Tonight, find the gorgeous Double Cluster in the constellation Perseus. 18. For more information including contact details, click here. The Perseus Cluster which appears to be nothing more than a mere star field is actually a cluster of … Although their discovery surely predates recorded history, the Greek astronomer Hipparchus notably cataloged the double cluster. Also named Caldwell 14 or simply “The Double Cluster”, both star clusters are very similar to each other in size, magnitude, and age. The Double Cluster in Perseus (NGC 869 and NGC 884) are two open clusters in the constellation Perseus. [5][6], The clusters were designated h Persei and χ Persei by Johann Bayer in his Uranometria (1603). Re: Double Cluster in Perseus - ASI294MM Post by Graeme1858 » Sun Oct 25, 2020 8:14 am jthommes wrote: ↑ Sun Oct 25, 2020 3:57 am There are examples on forums of dark frames that look scary with strong amp glo, but my experience is that the lights calibrate this out completely. Both clusters have been known since antiquity and probably pre-historically. 7. 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). However, the true nature of the Double Cluster was not discovered until the invention of the telescope, many centuries later. The Double Cluster is not included in Messier's catalog, but is included in the Caldwell catalogue of popular deep-sky objects. [9], Perseus is the mythological symbol of adventure. 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. Registered company no. Both visible with the naked eye, NGC 869 and NGC 884 lie at a … Also known as h Persei and χ Persei (h and Chi Persei), the clusters both lie at an approximate distance of 7,600 light years from Earth and are about 12.8 million years old. The Double Cluster represents the jewelled handle of Perseus's sword. 29 x 180 seconds at ISO 1600. If you come across the term Abell 426, it is the same as the Perseus Cluster. Pictures, altitude charts, data sheet and sky map for Double Cluster - - Open cluster in Perseus Constellation (Image: © … Perseus also contains a number of famous deep sky objects, among them Messier 34, the Double Cluster, the California Nebula (NGC 1499) and the Little Dumbbell Nebula (Messier 76). More than 300 blue-white supergiant stars are located in both clusters. 18. The Double Cluster is approximately the radiant of the Perseid meteor shower, which peaks annually around August 12 or 13. Nikon D610 stock on Esprit 100, no filter. 210769 Shop online, Copyright of all images and other observations submitted to the BAA remains with the owner of the work. Also known as "h and chi Persei", this unusual double cluster, shown above, is bright enough to be seen from a dark location without even binoculars.Although their discovery surely predates recorded history, the … Although their discovery surely predates recorded history, the Greek astronomer Hipparchus notably cataloged the double cluster. Double Cluster with wide field of view - posted in Deep Sky Observing: Howdy all; I do love the Double Cluster in Perseus and I think it loves me back. It is located about 5 degrees west of Algol. In the Northern Hemisphere, this grouping is always above the horizon, making it a popular target for observing year-round. These young stars lie about 7000 light-years from … [3] In comparison, the Pleiades have an estimated age ranging from 75 million years to 150 million years. Perseus was born the son of the Greek god Zeus. Website designed by Dominic Ford. [7] Bayer's Uranometria chart for Perseus does not show them as nebulous objects, but his chart for Cassiopeia does, and they are described as Nebulosa Duplex in Schiller's Coelum Stellatum Christianum, which was assembled with Bayer's help. July 26, 2017. A Double Star Cluster in Perseus. NGC 869 and NGC 884, also named Caldwell 14 or simply The Double Cluster, are two clusters in the constellation of Perseus. The Double Cluster is the common name for the open clusters NGC 869 and NGC 884 , which are close together in the constellation Perseus. Perseus is … Home. The Sky-Watcher Esprit 150 with the QHY-16200 camera really hits the sweet spot, getting the cluster well resolved in a nice frame. Greek astronomer Hipparchus cataloged the object (a patch of light in Perseus) as early as 130 BCE. There are more than 300 blue-white super-giant stars in each of the clusters. NGC 884 includes five prominent red supergiant stars, all variable and all around 8th magnitude: RS Persei, AD Persei, FZ Persei, V403 Persei, and V439 Persei. The Double Cluster in Perseus is one of the most beautiful objects in the sky, and is well placed for northern observers in the northeastern sky on these cool autumn evenings. 6. M34 is a cluster of 100 stars, of which at least 20 are bright and prominent. There are lots of notable deep-sky objects (star clusters, nebulae and galaxies) in Perseus to enjoy, such as the Alpha Persei Cluster, which is visible to the naked eye as a group of blue stars, and at just 60 million years old is astronomically speaking very young . The Double Cluster, also known as NGC 884, is a group of two star clusters in the Perseus constellation. Perseus is represented by brandishing his sword in his right hand, marked by the twin star clusters NGC 869 and NGC 884, while in his left hand he holds the head of Medusa, marked by the star Beta Persei, better known as Algol. [8], The Double Cluster is circumpolar (continuously above the horizon) from most northern temperate latitudes. Double Stars in Perseus These are the brightest and easiest-to-find double, triple, and quadruple star systems in the constellation Perseus. NGC 869 is 3700 times the mass of our sun and NGC 884 is 2800 times. Both clusters are surrounded with a very extensive halo of stars. November. Registered charity no. Mont-Mégantic, Québec, Canada. It contains many blue and red stars. It is located between the Perseus and Cassiopeia constellation and each cluster consists of about 100 bright stars. Along with beheading Medusa, Perseus performed other heroic deeds as well, such as saving Andromeda who was a princess chained to a rock as a sacrifice to a sea monster. Reproduction of the work by third-parties is expressly forbidden without the consent of the copyright holder. [4] Their hottest main sequence stars are of spectral type B0. Star Clusters in Perseus Constellation. One of my favourite star clusters is the Double Cluster in Perseus which is now rising nicely in the North East sky. Both NGC 869 and NGC 884 are getting closer to Earth at a rate of 24 miles per second. The Double Cluster in … © The British Astronomical Association 2020 These are two red supergiant stars in the star cluster. A Double Star Cluster in Perseus. Pictures, altitude charts, data sheet and sky map for Double Cluster - - Open cluster in Perseus Constellation This star has an apparent magnitude of 9.23, however, its brightness is very unpredictable, varying from 7.9 to 12.0, at chaotic rates. S Persei S Persei is a red supergiant or hypergiant star located near the Double Cluster in Perseus, situated at 7,900 light-years away from us. A rich part of the Milky Way runs through Perseus, making it an attractive constellation for binocular users. Double Cluster. This excellent rendering of the famous double cluster gets top marks for sharpness and accurate processing.Image acquisition: Graeme Coates & Paul TribeProcessing: Graeme Coates. The Perseus constellation is home to numerous renowned deep sky objects, some of which are Messier 34, the California Nebula (NGC 99), the Double Cluster and the Little Dumbbell Nebula (Messier 76). Double Cluster in Perseus Jul 31, 2017 4 I am not a great fan of clusters but I like this one! How to find it in your sky. Facts about Perseus Constellation The Double Cluster itself is made up of two open clusters, NGC869 and NGC884 that are some 7,500 light years away. But it isn't situated near a bright star - how to find it? The Double Cluster (also known as Caldwell 14) consists of the open clusters NGC 869 and NGC 884 (often designated h Persei and χ Persei, respectively), which are close together in the constellation Perseus. The Double Cluster in Perseus is one of the most beautiful objects in the sky, and is well placed for northern observers in the northeastern sky on these cool autumn evenings. Known to astronomers as the Double Cluster in Perseus, this collection of stars is now mid-high in the northeast sky about 8 p.m. and although … November. Forum Here are some observations with wide field views from refractors of a variety of apertures. M76, also known as little dumbbell nebula/ Barbell nebula/ Cork nebula is a faint nebula in the constellation Perseus. The Sky-Watcher Esprit 150 with the naked eye, NGC 869 and 884. Years old the border with Cassiopeia than 300 blue-white supergiant stars in the Caldwell of! Nebula is a breathtaking pair of star clusters, NGC869 and ngc884 are. 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