 |
Астронет: Астрономическая картинка дня Двойное скопление в Персее http://www.astronet.ru/db/msg/1770226/eng |
Credit & Copyright: Jack Groves
Explanation:
This pretty starfield spans about three full moons (1.5 degrees)
across the heroic northern constellation of
Perseus.
It holds the famous
pair of open star clusters,
h and Chi Persei.
Also cataloged as
NGC 869 (top) and NGC 884,
both clusters are about 7,000 light-years away and
contain stars much younger and hotter than the Sun.
Separated by only a few hundred light-years, the clusters are
both 13 million years young
based on
the ages of
their individual
stars,
evidence that they were likely a product of the same
star-forming region.
Always a rewarding
sight in binoculars,
the Double Cluster is
even visible to the unaided eye from
dark locations.
But a shroud of guitar strings was used to produced
diffraction spikes
on the colorful stars imaged in this vibrant telescopic view.
Global Moon Party:
Including APOD's Best Moon Images:
Saturday, October 9
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.