The Double Cluster (also known as Caldwell 14) is the common name for the open clusters NGC 869 and NGC 884 (often designated h Persei and χ Persei, respectively), which are close together in the constellation Perseus. Both visible with the naked eye, NGC 869 and NGC 884 lie at a distance of 7500 light years.
NGC 869 has a mass of 3700 solar masses and NGC 884 weighs in at 2800 solar masses; however, later research has shown both clusters are surrounded with a very extensive halo of stars, with a total mass for the complex of at least 20,000 solar masses. Based on their individual stars, the clusters are relatively young, both 12.8 million years old. There are more than 300 blue-white super-giant stars in each of the clusters. The clusters are also blueshifted, with NGC 869 approaching Earth at a speed of 39 km/s (24 mi/s) and NGC 884 approaching at a similar speed of 38 km/s (24 mi/s). Their hottest main sequence stars are of spectral type B0.
NGC 869 and NGC 884, Perseus Double Cluster
NGC 884 is an open cluster located 7600 light years away in the constellation of Perseus. It is the easternmost of the Double Cluster with NGC 869. The cluster is most likely around 12.5 million years old. Located in the Perseus OB1 association, both clusters are located physically close to one another, only a few hundred light years apart.
The clusters are visible with the unaided eye between the constellations of Perseus and Cassiopeia as a brighter patch in the winter Milky Way.
Photographed with 70 mm Nikkor lens and Nikon D800 DSLR camera in Åva, November 2019. Exposure was 40 min at ISO 800 on Astrotracker.
NGC 869 and NGC 884, Perseus Double Cluster
NGC 884 is an open cluster located 7600 light years away in the constellation of Perseus. It is the easternmost of the Double Cluster with NGC 869. The cluster is most likely around 12.5 million years old. Located in the Perseus OB1 association, both clusters are located physically close to one another, only a few hundred light years apart.
The clusters are visible with the unaided eye between the constellations of Perseus and Cassiopeia as a brighter patch in the winter Milky Way.
Photographed with 70 mm Nikkor lens and Nikon D800 DSLR camera in Åva, November 2019. Exposure was 40 min at ISO 800 on Astrotracker.
NGC 869 and NGC 884, Perseus Double Cluster
Photographed with Nikon D800 DSLR camera in Stuvsta, September 2017. Exposure was 20 min at ISO 800.
NGC 869 and NGC 884, Perseus Double Cluster
The Double Cluster (also known as Caldwell 14) is the common name for the open clusters NGC 869 and NGC 884 (often designated h Persei and χ Persei, respectively), which are close together in the constellation Perseus. Both visible with the naked eye, NGC 869 and NGC 884 lie at a distance of 7500 light years.
NGC 869 has a mass of 3700 solar masses and NGC 884 weighs in at 2800 solar masses; however, later research has shown both clusters are surrounded with a very extensive halo of stars, with a total mass for the complex of at least 20,000 solar masses. Based on their individual stars, the clusters are relatively young, both 12.8 million years old. There are more than 300 blue-white super-giant stars in each of the clusters. The clusters are also blueshifted, with NGC 869 approaching Earth at a speed of 39 km/s (24 mi/s) and NGC 884 approaching at a similar speed of 38 km/s (24 mi/s). Their hottest main sequence stars are of spectral type B0.
Photographed with APO 107 mm refractor telescope and Nikon D800 DSLR camera in Stuvsta, November 2020.
NGC 869 and NGC 884, Perseus Double Cluster
The Double Cluster (also known as Caldwell 14) is the common name for the open clusters NGC 869 and NGC 884 (often designated h Persei and χ Persei, respectively), which are close together in the constellation Perseus. Both visible with the naked eye, NGC 869 and NGC 884 lie at a distance of 7500 light years.
NGC 869 has a mass of 3700 solar masses and NGC 884 weighs in at 2800 solar masses; however, later research has shown both clusters are surrounded with a very extensive halo of stars, with a total mass for the complex of at least 20,000 solar masses. Based on their individual stars, the clusters are relatively young, both 12.8 million years old. There are more than 300 blue-white super-giant stars in each of the clusters. The clusters are also blueshifted, with NGC 869 approaching Earth at a speed of 39 km/s (24 mi/s) and NGC 884 approaching at a similar speed of 38 km/s (24 mi/s). Their hottest main sequence stars are of spectral type B0.
Photographed with APO 107 mm refractor telescope and Nikon D800 DSLR camera in Stuvsta, November 2020.
NGC 884
NGC 884 is an open cluster located 7600 light years away in the constellation of Perseus. It is the easternmost of the Double Cluster with NGC 869. The cluster is most likely around 12.5 million years old. Located in the Perseus OB1 association, both clusters are located physically close to one another, only a few hundred light years apart.
Photographed with APO 107 mm refractor telescope and Atik 360EX CCD camera in Åva, November 2019. Exposure was 40 min each of LRG and B.
NGC 869 and NGC 884, Perseus Double Cluster
Photographed with APO 94 mm refractor telescope and ASI 2600MC CMOS color camera in Stuvsta, September 29th, 2024. Exposure was 30*2 min with IDAS LPS D2 light pollution filter.
NGC 869 and NGC 884, Perseus Double Cluster
Photographed with APO 94 mm refractor telescope and ASI 2600MC CMOS color camera in Stuvsta, September 29th, 2024. Exposure was 30*2 min with IDAS LPS D2 light pollution filter.