Double Cluster in Perseus

While exploring Cassiopeia, I took a peek over to the bordering constellation of Perseus. Here you can find two open star clusters, often referred to as the Double Cluster designated as NGC 869 and NGC 884. Both clusters, which are visible to the unaided eyes, lie on the Perseus arm of the Milky Way Galactic Core some 7,600 and 6,800 light years away from Earth. Even though these clusters appear to be close in proximity, they are located a few hundred light years away from each other. Each cluster contains a few hundred stars, which are young, hot supergiant suns that are thousands of times more luminous than our sun…another trivia that blows my mind 🤯. The journey continue, but in the meantime, remember to look up and experience an amazing Universe!

Double Cluster in Perseus

Location of Double Cluster between the constellations Cassiopeia and Perseus. Source: http://www.skyledge.net/DoubleCluster-hop.htm

Gear: AA Hypercam 26C, SW Evostar 72ED, HEM27 mount, Optolong CLS; SVbony 120mm guidescope + ZWO 120mc

Exif: 105 minutes integration (5-min subs); Gain 200, Offset 3, TEC @ 10 degrees

SharpCap, AstroPixelProcessor, PixInsight, Photoshop

2 Comments

  1. Nice one!💯💯!
    Yes this is a nice visual object also.
    Really nice in my old 6-in Newtonian, and I’m pretty sure also visible in binoculars. And probably in very dark skies with the naked eye. (I may even have a pencil sketch of it in my observing log..🤔).
    Great work! 👍

    1. I would definitely like to see that pencil sketch 😊. I could actually see it from bedroom even though there is a close street light in the background. I always wanted to capture this but my previous equipment did not a allow me to guide properly so that I could sharp stars that were not elongated. I also had to learn the concept of backfocus properly 😊. I really want to go after the Jewel Box but the clouds are not helping. Anyways I will capture what I can. Thank you 🙏🏾

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