From the National Optical Astronomical Observatories
The double cluster in the constellation Perseus: known by its Greek designation c Persei (NGC 884, on the left) and h Persei (NGC 869) are about 7000 light years away and less than 100 light years apart. Although open clusters are quite common, this pair is exceptional in the large number of young bright O and B stars in each, and their closeness whilst still being clearly distinguished. This color picture was made from CCD images taken in September 1997 at the Burrell Schmidt telescope of the Warner and Swasey Observatory of the Case Western Reserve University, located on Kitt Peak.
Image Title: The Double Cluster h and c Persei
Credit: N. A. Sharp/AURA/NOAO/NSF
Text based on accompanying on-line materials.
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Last Modified On: Saturday, December 16, 2000