M34, Open Cluster in Perseus
Open star cluster Messier 34 is in the constellation Perseus and consists of about 100 stars lying about
1,400 light years from Earth. It is scattered over about half a degree of the sky with a diameter more
than that of the moon; however, most of the brightest stars in the cluster are located in about the center
third. The cluster diameter corresponds to about 14 light years and its age has been estimated at 180
million years. It can quite easily be found (even with the naked eye under good conditions as a faint
nebulous patch) as it lies just north of the line from Algol (Beta Persei) to Gamma Andromedae. It is
resolved into stars even in 10x50 binoculars, and best at low magnifications in telescopes. The cluster
contains a number of double stars, some of which are seen in this image. Note that the star spikes were
added in processing. Normally these are an artifact of a non-refractor type of telescope (I use a
refractor), but it makes the stars of the cluster standout so I added them.
1,400 light years from Earth. It is scattered over about half a degree of the sky with a diameter more
than that of the moon; however, most of the brightest stars in the cluster are located in about the center
third. The cluster diameter corresponds to about 14 light years and its age has been estimated at 180
million years. It can quite easily be found (even with the naked eye under good conditions as a faint
nebulous patch) as it lies just north of the line from Algol (Beta Persei) to Gamma Andromedae. It is
resolved into stars even in 10x50 binoculars, and best at low magnifications in telescopes. The cluster
contains a number of double stars, some of which are seen in this image. Note that the star spikes were
added in processing. Normally these are an artifact of a non-refractor type of telescope (I use a
refractor), but it makes the stars of the cluster standout so I added them.
| Location of M34 |
