Abbreviations- M, million; k,
thousand; ly, light years; Temp, temperature; RH, relative
humidity; DP, dew point; NA, not applicable; FOV- field of view;
au- astronomical
units (1 au = distance from Sun to Earth or 93 million miles) |
| Click on the images below to view a larger (1200 x 800) version in a new window. If your screen resolution is less than 1200 x 800, click on the image in the new window to view the full version. |
.jpg)
The Perseus
Double Cluster is comprised of two open star clusters, NGC
869 (bottom right) and NGC 884 (upper left),
in the constellation Perseus about
7,500 ly from Earth. Both clusters are
relatively young being about 14 million years old.
There are more than 300 blue-white super-giant stars in each
cluster. Interestingly, the light from the clusters is
blueshifted, meaning they are moving toward Earth.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
|
|
|
Object |
Double Cluster (NGC
869 & 884) |
| Distance |
7,500 ly |
| Constellation |
Perseus |
| Link |
Double Cluster |
|
|
| Date |
December 2024 (Tucson, AZ) |
| Conditions |
Clear, Clear,
45 - 65 F |
| Moon |
Waxing gibbous |
| Seeing |
2.0 - 3.0 arc-sec |
| Telescope |
RCOS 12.5" Ritchey-Chretien @ f9 |
| CCD camera |
SBIG STX16803 |
| Luminance |
2 hours; 12 x
10 min, 1 x 1 |
| Red |
2 hours; 12 x 10 min, 2 x 2 |
| Green |
2 hours; 12 x 10 min, 2 x 2 |
| Blue |
2 hours; 12 x 10 min, 2 x 2 |
| HA |
NA |
| FOV
(width) |
43.3 arc-min or
656 LY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
.jpg)
NGC 5466 is a globular cluster
in the constellation Bootes ~52 kly from Earth. It is
unusual in that it contains metal-poor stars.
|
|
| Object |
NGC 5466 |
| Distance |
52 kly |
| Constellation |
Bootes |
| Link |
NGC 5466 |
|
|
| Date |
March 25 - 30, 2017 (Tucson, AZ) |
| Conditions |
Clear, Temp-
~55 F,
RH- ~30%, DP- ~35 F |
| Moon |
Waning gibbous to waxing gibbous |
| Seeing |
2.0 - 3.0 arc-sec |
| Telescope |
RCOS 12.5" Ritchey-Chretien @ f9 |
| CCD camera |
SBIG STL11000M |
| Luminance |
24 x
10 min; 1 x 1 |
| Red |
6 x 10 min; 2 x 2 |
| Green |
6 x 10 min; 2 x 2 |
| Blue |
6 x 10 min; 2 x 2 |
| HA |
NA |
| FOV
(width) |
43.3 arc-min or
656 LY |
|
Click
here
to see a larger version. |
|
|
|
|
.jpg)
M2, also
called NGC 7089, is a globular cluster
in the constellation Aquarius ~33
kly from Earth. It is comprised of
approximately 150,000
stars including red and yellow giants and 21 variable stars.
It is estimated to be ~13
billion years old and is one of the oldest globular clusters
in the Milky Way.
|
|
| Object |
M2 |
| Distance |
33 kly |
| Constellation |
Aquarius |
| Link |
M2 |
|
|
| Date |
November
08 - 10, 2014 (Tucson, AZ) |
| Conditions |
Clear, Temp-
~65 F,
RH- ~30%, DP- ~35 F |
| Moon |
Waxing gibbous |
| Seeing |
2.0 - 3.0 arc-sec |
| Telescope |
RCOS 12.5" Ritchey-Chretien @ f9 |
| CCD camera |
SBIG STL11000M |
| Luminance |
45 x
5 min; 1 x 1 |
| Red |
15 x 5 min; 2 x 2 |
| Green |
15 x 5 min; 2 x 2 |
| Blue |
15 x 5 min; 2 x 2 |
| HA |
NA |
| FOV
(width) |
43.3 arc-min or
416 ly |
|
Click
here
to see a larger version. |
|
|
|
|
.jpg)
M15, also
called NGC 7078, is a globular cluster in the constellation
Pegasus ~33 kly from Earth. It is comprised of
over 100,000
stars including 112 variable stars, 8 pulsars, and one
double neutron star system. It is estimated to be ~12
billion years old.
|
|
| Object |
M15 |
| Distance |
33 kly |
| Constellation |
Pegasus |
| Link |
M15 |
|
|
| Date |
November
08, 2013 (Tucson, AZ) |
| Conditions |
Clear, Temp-
~65 F,
RH- ~30%, DP- ~35 F |
| Moon |
Waxing gibbous |
| Seeing |
2.0 - 3.0 arc-sec |
| Telescope |
RCOS 12.5" Ritchey-Chretien @ f9 |
| CCD camera |
SBIG STL11000M |
| Luminance |
15 x
5 min; 1 x 1 |
| Red |
15 x 5 min; 2 x 2 |
| Green |
15 x 5 min; 2 x 2 |
| Blue |
15 x 5 min; 2 x 2 |
| HA |
NA |
| FOV
(width) |
43.3 arc-min or
416 ly |
|
Click
here
to see a larger version. |
|
|
|
|
.jpg)
NGC 457, also
called the ET cluster, is an open cluster
in the constellation Cassiopeia 7.9 kly from Earth. It is comprised of
approximately 150
stars. Many of them are B class stars meaning
they are hot and blue. A few redder
stars can also be seen. NGC 457 has an estimated age of
21 million years.
|
|
| Object |
NGC 457 |
| Distance |
7.9 kly |
| Constellation |
Cassiopeia |
| Link |
NGC
457 |
|
|
| Date |
November 14, 2013 (Tucson, AZ) |
| Conditions |
Clear, Temp- 65 F,
RH- 34%, DP- 36 F |
| Moon |
Waxing gibbous |
| Seeing |
2.0 - 3.0 arc-sec |
| Telescope |
RCOS 12.5" Ritchey-Chretien @ f9 |
| CCD camera |
SBIG STL11000M |
| Luminance |
12 x
2 min; 1 x 1 |
| Red |
12 x 2 min; 2 x 2 |
| Green |
12 x 2 min; 2 x 2 |
| Blue |
12 x 2 min; 2 x 2 |
| HA |
NA |
| FOV
(width) |
43.3 arc-min or
100 ly |
|
Click
here
to see a larger version. |
|
|
|
|
.jpg)
NGC 663 is an open cluster
in the constellation Cassiopeia 6.8 kly from Earth. It is comprised of over 400
stars. Many of them are B class stars meaning
they are hot and blue. Some of these B class stars are
nearing the end of their main sequence lifespan. A few redder
stars can also be seen. Click
here to see a zoomed in field of view.
|
|
| Object |
NGC 663 |
| Distance |
6.8
kly |
| Constellation |
Cassiopeia |
| Link |
NGC 663 |
|
|
| Date |
November 13, 2012 (Tucson, AZ) |
| Conditions |
Clear, Temp- 60 F, RH- 15%, DP- 12 F |
| Moon |
New moon |
| Seeing |
2.0 - 3.0 arc-sec |
| Telescope |
RCOS 12.5" Ritchey-Chretien @ f9 |
| CCD camera |
SBIG STL11000M |
| Luminance |
12 x 5 min; 1 x 1 |
| Red |
6 x 5 min; 2 x 2 |
| Green |
6 x 5 min; 2 x 2 |
| Blue |
6 x 5 min; 2 x 2 |
| HA |
NA |
| FOV
(width) |
43.3 arc-min or
86.4 ly |
|
Click
here
to see a larger version. |
|
|
|
|
.jpg)
M44, also
known as the
Beehive cluster, is an open cluster in the constellation
Cancer 577 ly from Earth. It is comprised of over 350
stars. Many of them are B class stars meaning they are hot and blue.
The cluster also contains red giants and white dwarfs.
It is about 600 million years old. Galileo was first
to observe it with a telescope in 1609.
|
|
| Object |
M44 (Beehive Cluster) |
| Distance |
577
ly |
| Constellation |
Cancer |
| Link |
Messier
44 |
|
|
| Date |
January 29, 2012 (Tucson, AZ) |
| Conditions |
Clear, Temp- 54 F, RH- 37%, DP- 28 F |
| Moon |
Waxing crescent |
| Seeing |
2.0 - 3.0 arc-sec |
| Telescope |
RCOS 12.5" Ritchey-Chretien @ f9 |
| CCD camera |
SBIG STL11000M |
| Luminance |
12 x 5 min; 1 x 1 |
| Red |
6 x 5 min; 2 x 2 |
| Green |
6 x 5 min; 2 x 2 |
| Blue |
6 x 5 min; 2 x 2 |
| HA |
NA |
| FOV
(width) |
43.3 arc-min or 7.3
ly |
|
Click
here
to see a larger version. |
|
|
|
|
.jpg)
3C273 is a quasar 2 billion light years from Earth. Quasars look like stars but are really super massive black holes at the center of active galaxies. 3C273 has
a luminosity one trillion times that of our sun (or 100 X that of our entire Milky Way galaxy). You can see a faint jet of gas extending to the left of 3C273.
|
|
| Object |
3C273 |
| Distance |
2,000 Mly (2 billion light years) |
| Constellation |
Andromeda |
| Link |
3C273 |
|
|
| Date |
June 06, 2008 (West Bloomfield, MI) |
| Conditions |
Clear, Temp- 81 F, RH- 10%, DP- 23 F |
| Moon |
New moon |
| Seeing |
2.5 - 3.0 arc-sec |
| Telescope |
RCOS 12.5" Ritchey-Chretien @ f9 |
| CCD camera |
SBIG ST10XME |
| Luminance |
30 min; 1 x 1 |
| Red |
NA |
| Green |
NA |
| Blue |
NA |
| HA |
NA |
| FOV
(width) |
21.8 arc-min or 12.7 Mly |
|
|
|
|
|
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)