NGC 559 is an open star cluster located in the constellation Cassiopeia. It was discovered by the German-British astronomer William Herschel on November 9, 1787. Open clusters like NGC 559 are groups of stars that formed from the same molecular cloud and remain loosely bound by gravity.
Situated about 7,200 light-years from Earth, NGC 559 contains numerous young, hot stars. These stars emit a bright glow, making the cluster visible through small telescopes. The cluster is estimated to be around 224 million years old, which is relatively young in astronomical terms. It spans approximately 5 arcminutes across the sky, translating to about 10 light-years in diameter.
NGC 559 is part of the rich Milky Way star fields and is located in a region filled with interstellar dust and gas. The presence of dust slightly dims the brightness of the cluster, but its stars still stand out against the cosmic backdrop. Studies suggest that NGC 559 contains several variable stars, meaning their brightness changes over time due to internal processes or interactions with other stars.
Astronomers study clusters like NGC 559 to understand how stars evolve, as all the stars in an open cluster form at the same time. This makes it easier to compare their development stages. NGC 559 is a great example of a young stellar population in our galaxy and continues to be a subject of interest for both amateur and professional astronomers.
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: 98x60sec 1 hour 38 minutes
Capture Software: N.I.N.A.
Guiding: PHD2, ZWO asi120mm mini
Processed in: PixInsight
Additional details on Astrobin.com.