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Open star cluster in the constellation Cassiopeia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
NGC 559 (also known as Caldwell 8) is an open cluster and Caldwell object in the constellation Cassiopeia. It shines at magnitude +9.5. Its celestial coordinates are RA 01h 29.5m , dec +63° 18′. It is located near the open cluster NGC 637, and the bright magnitude +2.2 irregular variable star Gamma Cassiopeiae. The cluster is 7 arcmins across.[2]
| NGC 559 | |
|---|---|
PanSTARRS image of NGC 559 | |
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Right ascension | 01h 29m 31.20s[1] |
| Declination | +63° 18′ 07.2″[1] |
| Distance | 7200 ly (2200 pc[1]) |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | +9.5 |
| Apparent dimensions (V) | 7.0′[2] |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Other designations | Caldwell 8, Cr 13 |
| Associations | |
| Constellation | Cassiopeia |
The object is also called Ghost's Goblet. This name was coined by astronomer Stephen J. O'Meara, as the center of the star cluster, with a little imagination, is reminiscent of a still photograph of a jeweled goblet that is about to vanish in a ghostly manner. O'Meara attributes the impression of fading to the low brightness (about +12) of many stars in the center as well as to the great age of the star cluster, which is about 1.8 billion years old.[3]
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