Open Cluster in Perseus
NGC 1245 is a nice rich open cluster in the center of the constellation Perseus. It contains about 200 stars, many of which can be seen in a typical amateur telescope. It can be found about 3 degrees south-southwest of Mirfak (alpha Persei), the brightest star in Perseus.
This cluster is estimated to be about 1 billion years old, which is several times older than the average open cluster. Because the stars of open clusters are so far apart and relatively few in number, the gravitational attraction among them is weak, and the stars tend to drift away from each other over time. NGC 1245 has managed to hold itself together for a very long time.
| Magnitude | 8,4 |
| Apparent Size | 10' |
| Distance (light yrs) | 9,400 |
| Right Ascension | 3:14.7 |
| Declination | +47 14 |
| Field of View | 32' x 24' |
Image details: Exposure times of 24 minutes luminance, and 21 minutes each of red, green, and blue, taken with an SBIG ST-8300M imager and a 14" Meade LX850 telescope at f/5.5.
February 2016