This small pattern of four stars created substantial debate for years, but now we know it’s a simple asterism that looks like a spaceship from Asteroids!
Category Archives: Star Clusters
Messier 103 (NGC 581): A Star Cluster Far Far Away
Say hello to one of the most remote open star clusters in the Messier catalog.
Messier 16 (NGC 6611): The Eagle Nebula
As summertime begins in the northern hemisphere, Messier 16 (also known as the Eagle Nebula or Star Queen Nebula) comes on the scene. The popular Eagle Nebula s a diffuse emission nebula located in the constellation Serpens.
NGC 2264: A Christmas Tree Lights Up in Monoceros!
Don’t miss this large and attractive star cluster and nebula on cold winter nights.
NGC 1513: Open Cluster in Perseus
NGC 1513 is an open star cluster in the constellation Perseus. It’s best viewed in the winter. This is a scattered dim cluster that lies near the brighter and more prominent objects: NGC 1545 and NGC 1528. According to the book Sky Vistas by Craig Crossen, NGC 1513 is faint in part due to aContinueContinue reading “NGC 1513: Open Cluster in Perseus”
NGC 1528: A Star Cluster with a Water Fountain
NGC 1529 is an open star cluster in the constellation Perseus. It’s best viewed in the winter. Approximately 150 star makes up the constellation My Observations Date: March 11, 2021Time: 8:00 p.m.Location: Seattle, WashingtonScope: Meade 8″ ACFEyepiece: 20mmTemp: 53FSeeing: AverageTransparency: Average This cluster does have several bright stars; I count 15 prominent stars. On first glance, the stars look like theyContinueContinue reading “NGC 1528: A Star Cluster with a Water Fountain”
NGC 1545: A Colorful Triangle Cluster in Perseus
NGC 1545 is an open star cluster in the constellation Perseus. It’s best viewed in the winter at a magnitude of 6.19.
NGC 2360: Caroline’s Beautiful Cluster of Stars
Caroline Hershel, sister of the famous astronomer William Hershel who discovered Uranus, discovered this cluster more than 200 years ago on a winter’s night. Seeing this makes me reflect on the passing of time.