NGC 663 and Companions

Among the many open cluster in the region where the Milky Way cuts through Cassiopeia is a tight grouping of three clusters dominated by NGC 663. With a diameter of 15 arc-minutes and a magnitude of 7.1, NGC 663 is also cataloged as Caldwell 10 and is often described as the 'The Horseshoe Cluster'. Here is a close-up image of NGC 663:

(Click image to view larger version)

About one-half degree to the southwest of NGC 663 is another fainter and smaller cluster cataloged as NGC 659. This cluster is about 6 arcmin in diameter and shines at magnitude 7.9. Here is a close-up image of NGC 659:

(Click image to view larger version)

Also in the same field of view, about 43 arc-minutes to the northwest of NGC 663 is still another small cluster designated as NGC 654. This cluster is also about 6 arc-minutes in diameter but slightly brighter than NGC 659 at magnitude 6.5. Here is a close-up image of NGC 654:

(Click image to view larger version)

The complete field-of-view containing the three clusters (labeled) is shown in the following image. Note: The bright blue-white star to the southwest (below and left) of NGC 659 is the multiple star 44 CAS. This 5.8 magnitude star has a magnitude 9.6 companion 66 arc-seconds away and a 9.2 magnitude companion 140 arc-seconds away.

(Click image to view larger, unlabeled version)

Note: East is toward top and North is toward right side for all images. Also, complete image details are available by clicking here.

Comet Garradd - Sept. 29, 2011

Comet C/2009 P1 (Garradd) is a fairly bright and very well placed object for North American astronomers from now through Spring of 2012. As comets go it is a large object but never comes closer to the Sun than Mars' average distance. Thus it will be visible for an unusually long time but will never sport much of a tail. Below is an image of Garradd taken on the evening of September 29, 2011 from the Chiefland Astronomy Village in Chiefland, Florida. It is composed of multiple 2-minute exposures through LRGB filters.

(Click image to view larger version)

Here is also a very short video of the motion of Garradd over the 90-minute period that I spent imaging the object (10 frames, each frame approximately ten minutes apart).