Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                               2020 January 30

                          Two Clusters and a Comet
       Image Credit & Copyright: Rolando Ligustri (CARA Project, CAST)

   Explanation: This lovely starfield spans some four full moons (about 2
   degrees) across the heroic northern constellation of Perseus. In
   telescopic exposures made during the nights of January 24, 26, and 28
   it holds the famous pair of open or galactic star clusters h and Chi
   Persei with comet PanSTARRS (C/2017 T2) captured each night as it swept
   left to right across the field of view. Also cataloged as NGC 869
   (right) and NGC 884, both star clusters are about 7,000 light-years
   away and contain stars much younger and hotter than the Sun. Separated
   by only a few hundred light-years, the clusters are both 13 million
   years young based on the ages of their individual stars, evidence that
   they were likely a product of the same star-forming region. Discovered
   in 2017 while still beyond the orbit of Saturn, Comet PanSTARRs is a
   new visitor to the inner solar system and just over 13 light-minutes
   from planet Earth. Always a rewarding sight in binoculars, the Double
   Cluster is even visible to the unaided eye from dark locations. C/2017
   T2 could remain a telescopic comet though. One of the brightest comets
   anticipated in 2020 it makes its closest approach to the Sun in early
   May.

             Tomorrow's picture: Goldilocks and the Three Stars
     __________________________________________________________________

       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
                NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
                      A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

--- hpt/lnx 1.9.0