Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Cassiopeia (Cas)  ·  Contains:  HD236783  ·  HD9311  ·  HD9365  ·  M 103  ·  NGC 581
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Messier 103, Indy Backyard Astro
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Messier 103, Indy Backyard Astro
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Description

Located in the constellation Cassiopeia, Messier 103 (M103) is a mesmerizing open star cluster that graces our night sky with its celestial beauty. Discovered by French astronomer Pierre Méchain in 1781 and later cataloged by Charles Messier, this stellar gem is a captivating sight for stargazers and amateur astronomers.M103 is positioned approximately 8,000 light-years away from Earth, making it a distant but accessible object in the night sky. What sets this cluster apart is its distinct arrangement of stars. It consists of about 40 to 50 individual stars, and its most prominent members form a delicate triangular pattern. These stars are relatively young, with an estimated age of around 25 million years. Their youth is evident in their blue-white brilliance and their tight grouping within the cluster.

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Messier 103, Indy Backyard Astro