Sections

Catalogues

Show the direction and distance to this star cluster on the Galactic Map.

Proper Names	Owl Cluster, Dragonfly Cluster, ET Cluster, Kachina Doll Cluster
Caldwell Number	C13
NGC/IC Number	NGC 457
Constellation	Cassiopeia
Right Ascension	1h 19m 35s
Declination	+58° 17' 12"
Distance	c.7,900 light years c.2,400 parsecs
Magnitude	Apparent: +6.4 Absolute: -5.5
Diameter	Apparent: 20' Actual: 46 light years
Number of Stars	c. 250
Optimum Visibility	October / November (Usually visible from northern latitudes)
Notes	This open cluster has two stars shining more brightly than the rest, giving the impression of a pair of 'eyes' that leads to the common name of the 'Owl Cluster'. These two stars are Phi Cassiopeiae and HD 7209, though there is still some question as to whether Phi Cassiopeiae actually belongs to the cluster, or simply falls in its foreground as seen from Earth.

This is a fairly populous cluster in the constellation of Cassiopeia, containing about one hundred and fifty stars. This young star-group lies a little under 8,000 light years from the Sun.

v2.1g