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Credit & Copyright: Ivan Eder
Explanation:
Most star clusters are singularly impressive.
Open clusters NGC 869 and NGC 884,
however, are doubly impressive.
Also known as "h and chi Persei", this unusual
double cluster, shown above, is bright enough to be seen from a
dark location without even
binoculars.
Although their discovery surely predates
written history, the Greek astronomer
Hipparchus
notably cataloged the
double cluster.
The clusters are over 7,000 light years distant toward the
constellation
of Perseus,
but are separated by only hundreds of light years.
Captured earlier this month, the bright comet
103P/Hartley,
informally called Comet
Hartley 2,
passed well in front but only a few degrees away from the famous double cluster.
Comet Hartley 2, visible on the right,
is now fading but
still discernable to northern observers with binoculars.
No binoculars are needed, of course, if you go right up to the
comet's nucleus, as is the plan for NASA's
EPOXI
spacecraft on November 4.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Perseus cluster - open cluster - comet
Publications with words: Perseus cluster - open cluster - comet
See also:
- APOD: 2026 April 20 Á Comet R3 PanSTARRS over a Himalayan Valley
- APOD: 2026 April 18 Á PanSTARRS and Planets
- APOD: 2026 April 14 Á The Long Wispy Tail of Comet R3 (PanSTARRS)
- APOD: 2026 April 13 Á NGC 602 and Beyond
- APOD: 2026 April 12 Á Comet R3 PanSTARRS Brightens
- APOD: 2026 February 17 Á Tails of Comet Wierzchoå
- APOD: 2025 December 30 Á An Artificial Comet