NGC 6754

Also Known as: Messier 52 (M52), Collinder 455

Object Type: Open Cluster

Constellation: Cassiopeia

Distance from Earth: 4,600 light years

Apparent Magnitude: 6.9

Coordinates: RA 23H 24M 48S DEC 61 deg 35 min 36 sec

Actual Size: 22 light years in diameter

Apparent Dimensions: 13 arc-minutes

Discovered by: M52 was discovered by Charles Messier, who catalogued it on September 7, 1774 with the following note:
Cluster of very small stars, mingled with nebulosity, which can be seen only with an achromatic telescope.
It was when he observed the Comet which appeared in this year that Charles Messier saw this cluster, which was close to the comet on the 7th of September 1774; it is below the star d Cassiopeiae: that star was used to determine [the position of] both the cluster of stars & the comet.

Description: Messier 52 contains 193 probable members within a region 9 arc minutes in radius. These were discovered by the Swedish astronomer Åke Wallenquist.
Its apparent size is just less than ½ of a full Moon. The cluster has an estimated age of 35 million years.
The brightest main sequence star in the cluster is magnitude 11 and belongs to the spectral class B7.
The brightest of all stars in M52 has the spectral classification F9 and a visual magnitude of 7.77.
The cluster has an estimated age of 35 million years.
M52 lies near the prominent deep sky object, the Bubble Nebula (NGC 7635).
This emission nebula lies at a much greater distance than M52 (11,000 light years) so the objects are not physically related. The distance to M52 has not been established with any degree of certainty because of a high interstellar absorption of the cluster’s light. Estimates are generally in the range from 3,000 to 7,000 light years. The cluster has a Trumpler classification of I,2,r, which means that it is detached from the surrounding star field and has strong central concentration (I), it has a moderate range in brightness (2), and is richly populated (r), with 100 or more confirmed members.
The cluster’s density in the central region is about three stars per cubic parsec.

Click Below Image(s) for Full Size:

M52 can easily be seen with binoculars. In 10x50 binoculars it appears as a hazy, nebulous patch. A 4 inch scope reveals a dense compressed star cluster with a shape resembling a ‘V’.
Messier 52 is very easy to find as it lies near Cassiopeia‘s prominent W asterism, formed by the constellation’s brightest stars.
More stars are visible in larger scopes. The cluster occupies an area just less than half of the size of the full Moon.
M52 is best viewed late fall through winter.

Platesolve

M52 Open Cluster

Imaging Details
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