NGC 2168 – Messier 35

NGC 2168, also known as Messier 35, is a star cluster located in the constellation Gemini. The cluster was discovered by Philippe Loys de Chéseaux and independently by John Bevis in the mid-18th century. It is located about 2,970 light-years away from Earth and is a relatively young open cluster estimated to be 175 million […]

NGC 2323 (Messier 50)

Introduction NGC 2323 is a intermediate age, open star cluster that is estimated to be around 1.4×10^8 years old. This star cluster, also known as Messier 50 was first documented by G. D. Cassini a year before it was formerly named and discovered by Charles Messier in 1772. NGC 2323 has a unique shape that […]

NGC 2539

NGC 2539 is an intermediate age open star cluster discovered by astronomer Fredrick William Herschel in 1785. This cluster is located in the north edge of the Puppis Constellation. What separates an open cluster from different types of clusters? Open clusters consist of stars roughly the same age due to formation from the same molecular […]

NGC 5024

By Ghanim Jamil ghj729 Globular clusters are studied by astronomers to gain a better understanding of the galaxy they reside in, and in general estimate the age of the universe. This blog is about the globular cluster NGC 5024, also known as Messier 53. This cluster was discovered in 1775, February 3rd by a […]

NGC 2343

NGC 2343 is an open cluster in the Monoceros constellation located on the celestial equator. Its location makes it partly visible in both hemispheres during certain times of the year. It was discovered by William Herschel in 1785. According to Astronomy.com, there is a possibility of seeing some of the stars with the naked eye […]

IC2395

IC2395 is one of the youngest and brightest open clusters in our galaxy, and is located in the southern constellation of Vela. IC2395 is thought to be around 50 million years old and about 500 light-years from Earth. Its discovery is accredited to French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille who is said to observed it first […]

NGC 4833

Globular clusters are fascinating objects that have captured the attention of astronomers of all skills and backgrounds for centuries. There are over 150 known globular clusters in the Milky way. These clusters are made of thousands to millions of stars that are gravitationally bound together. One of these worth exploring is NGC4833. This old globular […]

NGC-5749

NGC 5749 is an intermediate-age cluster in the Southern constellation of Lupus. It was first discovered by James Dunlop in 1826 but also observed by John Hershel in 1834. It is located roughly 3,262 light years from the sun and is considered to be a poorly populated cluster that shows a low level […]

NGC 3766

Introduction: NGC 3766 also known as Caldwell 97 is an young age open star cluster found in the Southern constellation Centauras, this cluster also received the nickname “The Pearl Cluster” due to it being a very dense open cluster and shimmers like a pearl. This cluster was discovered by French astronomer Nicholas Louis de Lacaille […]

IC 1590 and the Pac-Man Nebula

Introduction IC 1590 is a young, open star cluster estimated to be (3.5±0.2) x 106 years old, and is located in the Cassiopeia constellation. IC 1590 resides within the nebulosity of NGC 281, which was discovered by the astronomer Edward Emerson Barnard in August 1883. NGC 281 is sometimes called the ‘Pac-Man’ nebula because of […]