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Chi Persei

NGC 884, Collinder 25, Melotte 14
Part of the Double Cluster or Sword Handle, C14

Proper NameNone
Bayer DesignationChi Persei
Caldwell NumberPart of C14, the Double Cluster
NGC/IC NumberNGC 884
Other DesignationsCollinder 25, Melotte 14
ConstellationPerseus
Right Ascension2h 22m 23s
Declination+57° 7' 30"
Distancec.6,900 light years
c.2,100 parsecs
MagnitudeApparent: +6.09
Absolute: -6.25
DiameterApparent: 18'
Actual: 50 light years
Number of Starsc. 1,600
Optimum VisibilityNovember (Usually visible from northern latitudes)
NotesThe origin of the designation 'Chi Persei' for this object is somewhat obscure, but it does not seem to have been originally recognised as a star cluster (hence a Bayer designation that would typically belong to a star rather than cluster). To complicate matters further, the stellar designation 'Chi Persei' is also applied to a star some 30' northward of the cluster, but not in fact related to it.

The open cluster Chi Persei (or NGC 884) is the eastern of the two clusters that make up the Double Cluster or Sword Handle in Perseus. The other cluster of the pair is h Persei, partially visible on the right-hand edge of this image, which is rather brighter and denser than Chi Persei. The two clusters are not in fact directly related, with Chi Persei lying several hundred light years farther from the Sun than its neighbour in the sky. Imagery provided by Aladin sky atlas

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