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Messier 34 |
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 | M34 open cluster contains about 100 stars and lies about 1,400 light years and is scattered over 35 arc minutes, more than the diameter of the full Moon. This angular diameter corresponds to a linear 14 light years. This is a large open cluster, located halfway between Gamma And and Algol in Perseus. It barely fits into the field of view at 49X. The cluster is somewhat square or diamond-shaped and rather sparse. It consists of several pairs of stars, with most of these pairs being near the center of the cluster. The pairs are at different angles, creating the effect of a pinwheel in the middle of the cluster. In the heart of the cluster lies four stars that roughly form a triangle, with three of the stars making the baseline and the other star the third point. The central pairs of stars are the brightest members of the cluster, with the outer ring (or diamond) of stars being of a similar magnitude. The remaining stars between are dimmer. |
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M34 NGC 1039 Other description: Open cluster rich. Constellation: Perseus Dreyer description: Cluster, bright, very large, little compressed, scattered stars of magnitude 9; = M34. Magnitude: 5.2 RA: 02h 42m 14.0s Dec: +42°48'00" RA: 02h 42m 00.0s Dec: +42°47'00" (Epoch 2000) Azm: 72°23'53" Alt: +48°26'25" Rise: 22:02 Transit: 09:28 Set: 20:50 Size:35.0' |