NGC 559

NGC 559
PanSTARRS image of NGC 559
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Right ascension01h 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
Associations
ConstellationCassiopeia
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]

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.[3]

Map showing the location of NGC 559

References

  1. ^ a b c 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, arXiv:1308.5822, Bibcode:2013A&A...558A..53K, doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201322302, S2CID 118548517, A53.
  2. ^ a b Seligman, Courtney. "Celestial Atlas: NGC Objects: NGC 550 - 599". cseligman.com. Archived from the original on 10 September 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
  3. ^ O’Meara, Stephen James (2016): The Caldwell Objects. 2nd edition, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-1-107-08397-4, p. 49–51.