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Messier 34 is a sparse open cluster containing over 100 stars. With an age of about 225 million years, M34 is a rather old cluster. Located about 1,500 light years away in the constellation Perseus, M34 shares properties (such as distance, spatial motion) with other open clusters like M45, NGC 2516, IC 2602, the Delta Lyrae Cluster Lyra, and the Alpha Persei Cluster in Perseus. These properties were discovered in 1983 by Olin Eggen. These clusters are now considered to be related members of the Local Association.
Additional Information
Object
Name(s): Messier 34. M34. NGC 1039
Type: Open Cluster
RA: 02h 42m 02s
Dec: +42º 44’ 52”
Constellation: Perseus
Size (arcmin): 35×35 arcmin
Magnitude: +5.5
Distance: 1,500 ly
Image
Date: 2021-09-13
Location: iTelescope.net, New Mexico Skies, Mayhill, NM, USA
Size (arcmin): 43×30 arcmin
Telescope: 20” (51 cm) f/4.5 Reflector
Camera: FLI PL11002 (4008x2672pix)
Guiding: Astrodon MonsterMOAG off-axis guider
Total exposure: 1.5 hours (30 min each RGB)
Processing: CCDStack, Photoshop CC 2022