Explanation:
A
lovely starfield
in the heroic northern constellation
Perseus
holds this famous pair of open or galactic star clusters,
h and Chi
Perseii.
Also cataloged as
NGC
869 (right) and NGC 884,
both clusters are about 7,000 light-years away and
contain stars much younger and hotter than the Sun.
Separated by only a few hundred light-years, the clusters' ages
based on
their individual stars
are similar - evidence that they were likely a product of the same
star-forming region.
Always a rewarding
sight in binoculars,
the Double Cluster is
even visible to the unaided eye from
dark locations.
Star colors (and spikes) are enhanced in this beautiful, wide field,
telescopic image.
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