Explanation:
The New General Catalog
of star clusters and nebulae really isn't so new.
In fact, it was
published
in 1888 - an attempt by
J. L. E.
Dreyer to consolidate the work of astronomers
William,
Caroline, and
John Herschel
along with others into a useful single, complete catalog of
astronomical discoveries and measurements.
Dreyer's work was successful and is still important today as
this
famous catalog continues to lend its "NGC" to
bright clusters, galaxies, and nebulae.
Take for example this star cluster known as NGC 2266
(item number 2,266 in the NGC compilation).
It lies about 10,000 light-years distant in the constellation Gemini and
represents an open or galactic cluster.
With an age of about 1 billion years, NGC 2266 is old for a galactic
cluster.
Its evolved red giant stars are readily
apparent in
this gorgeousthree-color image.
