Sections

Catalogues

Show the direction and distance to this star cluster on the Galactic Map.

Proper Name	Alpha Persei Cluster
Messier Number	None
NGC/IC Number	None
Other Designations	Collinder 39, Melotte 20
Constellation	Perseus
Right Ascension	3h 26m 28s
Declination	+48° 58' 30"
Distance	558 light years 171 parsecs
Magnitude	Apparent: +2.29 Absolute: -3.87
Diameter	Apparent: 5° Actual: 53 light years
Number of Stars	c. 5,000
Optimum Visibility	November / December (Usually visible from northern latitudes)

The brightest star seen here is Alpha Persei itself, also called Mirfak. The cluster surrounding it contains several thousand stars, mostly hot blue members of the B-type classification. The cluster extends outward from Alpha Persei in all directions, but especially into the region southeastward of the star. Imagery provided by Aladin sky atlas

v2.1g