Astronomy:NGC 559

From HandWiki
NGC 559
PanSTARRS image of NGC 559
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ConstellationCassiopeia
Right ascension 01h 29m 31.20s[1]
Declination+63° 18′ 07.2″[1]
Distance7200 ly (2200 pc[1])
Apparent magnitude (V)+9.5
Apparent dimensions (V)7.0[2]
Physical characteristics
Other designationsCaldwell 8, Cr 13
See also: Open cluster, List of open clusters

NGC 559 (also known as Caldwell 8) is an open cluster and Caldwell object in the constellation Cassiopeia. It shines at magnitude +9.5. Its celestial coordinates are RA  01h 29.5m, dec +63° 18′. It is located near the open cluster NGC 637, and the bright magnitude +2.2 irregular variable star Gamma Cassiopeiae. The cluster is 7 arcmins across.[2]

It was discovered by William Herschel in 1787. [3]

The object is also called Ghost's Goblet. This name was coined by astronomer Stephen J. O'Meara, as the center of the star cluster, with a little imagination, is reminiscent of a still photograph of a jeweled goblet that is about to vanish in a ghostly manner. O'Meara attributes the impression of fading to the low brightness (about +12) of many stars in the center as well as to the great age of the star cluster, which is about 1.8 billion years old.[4]

Map showing the location of NGC 559

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Kharchenko, N. V. et al. (2013), "Global survey of star clusters in the Milky Way. II. The catalogue of basic parameters", Astronomy and Astrophysics 558: 8, doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201322302, A53, Bibcode2013A&A...558A..53K. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 Seligman, Courtney. "Celestial Atlas: NGC Objects: NGC 550 - 599". http://cseligman.com/text/atlas/ngc5a.htm#559. 
  3. https://www.deepskycorner.ch/obj/ngc559.en.php
  4. O’Meara, Stephen James (2016): The Caldwell Objects. 2nd edition, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-1-107-08397-4, p. 49–51.