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Foxhead Cluster (NGC 6819)

Also known as Foxhead Cluster · NGC 6819

Foxhead Cluster (NGC 6819) is an open star cluster in the constellation Cygnus, about 8,970 light-years from Earth.

Foxhead Cluster (NGC 6819): a sky-survey photograph of its field
Sky survey view (DSS2 colour, or a backup survey)

Facts

TypeOpen star cluster
ConstellationCygnus
Position (J2000)19h 41m 18s, +40° 11′
Distance8,970 light-years (its light set off about 8,970 years ago)
Brightnessmagnitude 7.3 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6)
Size on the sky11.4′ × 11.4′ (the full Moon is about 31′)
FilterNo filter (It shines in starlight of every colour, so a nebula filter would only dim it; a dark sky helps more.)
Studied in744 scientific papers (SIMBAD)

When and how to see it

Foxhead Cluster (NGC 6819) is highest in the sky at midnight in July. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 70° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 80°. To see it you need binoculars.

Heights are worked out for India and for 50° N. Set your location in Settings to see them for where you are.

For tonight's best time from your own town, the darkness and the Moon, open it on the map and see its "Tonight from your location" card.

More in Cygnus

Everything in Cygnus · All 88 constellations · All sky objects

Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits