NGC 663

Common Name: Lawnmower Cluster

Also Known as: Caldwell 10

Object Type: Open Cluster

Constellation: Cassiopeia

Distance from Earth: 6,850 light years

Apparent Magnitude: 7.1

Coordinates: RA 01H 46M 0S DEC 61 deg 15 min 0 sec

Actual Size: 50,000 light years

Apparent Dimensions: 16 arc-minutes

Discovered by: NGC 663 was discovered by William Herschel in 1787.

Description: NGC 663 is a relatively large, young open cluster. It has an estimated 400 stars and spans about a quarter of a degree across the sky.
The star cluster is assumed to form part of the stellar association Cassiopeia OB8, that is located in the Perseus arm of the Milky Way, along with the open clusters M103, NGC 654, NGC 659, and some supergiant stars scattered between them, all of them having similar ages and distances.

Click Below Image(s) for Full Size:

The NGC 663 group can reportedly be detected with the unaided eye, although a telescope is recommended for best viewing. The brightest members of the cluster can be viewed with binoculars.
The NGC 663 group is circumpolar and therefore visible all year round.
It appears highest in the sky during October, November and December

Platesolve

NGC 663 Open Clusters

NGC 663 Open Cluster closeup

Imaging Details
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