Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Perseus (Per)  ·  Contains:  13 Per  ·  15 Per)  ·  18 Per  ·  23 Per  ·  27 Per)  ·  33 Per)  ·  35 Per  ·  37 Per  ·  39 Per  ·  Alchemb (α Per  ·  Algenib  ·  Marfak  ·  NGC 1245  ·  Part of the constellation Perseus (Per)  ·  The star Miram (η Per  ·  The star Mirfak  ·  The star Misam (κ Per  ·  The star γ Per  ·  The star δ Per  ·  The star θ Per  ·  The star ι Per  ·  The star σ Per  ·  The star τ Per  ·  The star ψ Per
Perseus Wide Field and alpha Persei Cluster, BrettWaller
Perseus Wide Field and alpha Persei Cluster
Powered byPixInsight

Perseus Wide Field and alpha Persei Cluster

Perseus Wide Field and alpha Persei Cluster, BrettWaller
Perseus Wide Field and alpha Persei Cluster
Powered byPixInsight

Perseus Wide Field and alpha Persei Cluster

Equipment

Loading...

Acquisition details

Loading...

Description

This wide-angle image of Perseus extends about fourteen degrees along the galactic plane of the northern Milky Way. Its brightest star, alpha Persei, or Mirfak, shines at m. 1.8 and is a yellowish-white supergiant of spectral class F 5 Ib, and is visually similar to Procyon. Mirfak is situated in the midst of one the most beautiful open clusters in the northern sky, Melotte 20, also referred to as the alpha Persei moving group or Collinder 39. The most visible members of the cluster are massive bluish-white stars of spectral class B and form a graceful S-shaped arc extending southeast from Mirfak. In prominent contrast is the orange K-type giant star sigma Persei, of m. 4.36. At a distance of 360 light years, is is just over halfway from Earth to Melotte 20, distant 570 light years.

The alpha Persei group is a Trumpler Type III 1 r open cluster that spans approximately 3 degrees of arc. With a combined visual magniture of m. 1.2, is presents a wonderful view in binoculars with about 40 stars visible, a sight not to be missed.

Comments

Revisions

  • Perseus Wide Field and alpha Persei Cluster, BrettWaller
    Original
  • Final
    Perseus Wide Field and alpha Persei Cluster, BrettWaller
    C

Sky plot

Sky plot

Histogram

Perseus Wide Field and alpha Persei Cluster, BrettWaller