M52 (NGC 7654)
Also known as M52 · M 52 · NGC 7654
M52 (NGC 7654) is an open star cluster in the constellation Cassiopeia, about 4,880 light-years from Earth.
Facts
| Type | Open star cluster |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Cassiopeia |
| Position (J2000) | 23h 24m 48s, +61° 35′ |
| Distance | 4,880 light-years (its light set off about 4,880 years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 6.9 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Size on the sky | 16′ × 16′ (the full Moon is about 31′) |
| Filter | No filter (It shines in starlight of every colour, so a nebula filter would only dim it; a dark sky helps more.) |
| Studied in | 201 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
M52 (NGC 7654) is highest in the sky at midnight in September. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 48° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 78°. 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 Cassiopeia
- Bubble Nebula
- Cassiopeia A
- Fish Head Nebula
- Heart Nebula
- M103 (NGC 581)
- Pacman Nebula
- Soul Nebula
- Tycho's Supernova
Everything in Cassiopeia · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits