Messier 29 (M29)

Also Known as: NGC 6913, Collinder 422

Object Type: Open Cluster

Constellation: Cygnus

Distance from Earth: 4,000 light years

Apparent Magnitude: 7.1

Coordinates: RA 20H 23M 56S DEC 38 deg 31.4 min 0 sec

Actual Size: 11 light years in diameter.

Apparent Dimensions: 7 arc-minutes

Discovered by: Messier 29 is one of Charles Messier’s original discoveries. It is one of only two deep sky objects in Cygnus included in Messier’s list, along with the open cluster Messier 39. Messier catalogued M29 on July 29, 1764.

Description: M29 is a small, bright, detached cluster without noticeable concentration, containing both bright and dim stars.
It is classified as Trumpler class III, 3, p, n, which means that it is a detached cluster without noticeable concentration (III), it contains both bright and faint stars, it has fewer than 50 stars, and there is nebulosity associated with it.
The nebulosity around the cluster can be seen in photographs. It has approximately 50 members. There is also nebulosity associated with M29.
It is in a crowded region of the Milky way. Messier 29 is approaching us at 28 km/s.
The cluster is part of the Cygnus OB1 association, a group of stars that share a common motion, age and place of origin.
The cluster’s brightest stars form a quadrilateral and another three form a triangle, located just to the north of the quadrilateral, giving M29 the shape of a squashed dipper.
This shape is visible in 3.1-inch telescopes. It is estimated that the age of M29 is 10 to 13 million years.
There are 6 stars that are brighter than magnitude 9.5.
Without the dust of the Milky Way obscuring the stars, M29 would appear 1,000 times brighter.

Click Below Image(s) for Full Size:

M29 is too faint to be spotted with the un-aided eye. It can be seen with binoculars. It is best seen with lowest power telescopes. The shape of visible in a 3-inch telescope.
M29 is best viewed in early spring.

Platesolve

M29 Globular Cluster

Imaging Details
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