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NGC 457 (also designated Caldwell 13, and known as the Dragonfly Cluster, E.T. Cluster, Owl Cluster, Kachina Doll Cluster or Phi Cassiopeiae Cluster) is an open star cluster in the constellationCassiopeia.
Discovery
It was discovered by William Herschel on August 18, 1780, with a 6.2 inch reflector telescope, and catalogued as VII 42.
Visibility
It is an easy target for amateur astronomers, and can be seen even with small telescopes in light-polluted skies.
Characteristics
It lies over 7,900 light years away from the Sun. It has an estimated age of 21 million years. The cluster is sometimes referred by amateur astronomers as the Owl Cluster or the E.T. Cluster (due to its resemblance to the movie character).
Two bright stars Phi Cassiopeiae (magnitude 5 and spectral type F0) and HD 7902 (magnitude 7) can be imagined as eyes. It is not yet clear if Phi Cassiopeiae is a member of the cluster, and if it is, then it would be one of the brightest stars known, surpassing Rigel in luminosity. For comparison, the Sun at the same distance as Phi Cassiopeiae would shine at just 17.3 magnitude. The next brightest star is the red supergiantvariable star V466 Cassiopeiae. The cluster features a rich field of about 150 stars of magnitude 9-13. About 60 stars have been identified as true members of the cluster.
Gallery
Map showing the location of NGC 457 in the constellation of Cassiopeia.NGC 457 (center) pictured alongside open cluster NGC 436 (bottom right).
Open cluster NGC 457 in Cassiopeia
Media related to NGC 457 at Wikimedia Commons
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