Double Cluster in Perseus - Astronomy Picture of the Day - 2009 January 3

Some 7,000 light-years away, this pair of open or galactic star clusters is an easy binocular target, a lovely starfield in the northern constellation Perseus. Also visible to the unaided eye from dark sky areas, it was cataloged in 130 BC by Greek astronomer Hipparchus. Now known as h and chi Persei, or NGC 869(above right) and NGC 884, the clusters themselves are separated by only a few hundred light-years and contain stars much younger and hotter than the Sun. In addition to being physically close together, the clusters' ages based on their individual stars are similar - evidence that both clusters were likely a product of the same star-forming region.

Credit & Copyright: Roth Ritter (Dark Atmospheres)

Source: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090103.html

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Double
• Cluster
• in
• Perseus
• Astronomy
• Picture
• of
• the
• Day
• 2009
• January
• Science
• Space
• Galaxies
• Stars
• Universe
• Roth
• Ritter
• (Dark
• Atmospheres)
• Solar
• System

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