NGC 1528 is an open star cluster located in the constellation Perseus, roughly 1,020 parsecs (about 3,300 light-years) from Earth. It was discovered by the astronomer William Herschel on November 28, 1790. Open clusters like NGC 1528 are groups of stars that formed from the same molecular cloud and are loosely bound by gravity.
This cluster spans approximately 18 arcminutes in the sky, making it a good target for amateur astronomers using small telescopes or binoculars. It contains a mix of bright and faint stars, predominantly main-sequence stars, along with some evolved giant stars. The estimated age of NGC 1528 is around 290 million years, which places it in the middle range of open cluster ages.
NGC 1528 stands out due to its rich stellar population and the way its stars appear scattered yet follow a general structure. Observations show that the cluster has a relatively high number of intermediate-mass stars, and studies of its motion suggest that it is slowly dispersing as stars drift apart due to gravitational interactions.
This cluster is located in Perseus, a constellation best known for its association with the famous Perseus myth and its bright stars, including Algol, the “Demon Star.” NGC 1528 is near another open cluster, NGC 1513, offering a striking view in wide-field astrophotography.
Studying clusters like NGC 1528 helps astronomers understand stellar evolution and the dynamics of star groups. Since all stars in an open cluster form at roughly the same time, they provide valuable insights into how stars of different masses evolve under similar conditions.
Capture Details:
Telescope: Celestron Nexstar 8se
Reducer/Flattener: Celestron .63x Reducer/Flattener
Filter: Optolong L-Pro
Camera: ZWO ASI294 MC Pro
Mount: Skywatcher EQM-35 Pro
Total Time: 80 x 60 sec 1 hour 20 minutes
Capture Software: N.I.N.A.
Guiding: PHD2, ZWO asi120mm mini
Processed in: PixInsight