NGC 654

NGC 654 is an open cluster in the constellation Cassiopeia. It was discovered by William Herschel in 1787. With apparent magnitude 6.5, it can be observed by binoculars.[3] It is located 2,5° northeast of the star Delta Cassiopeiae. In the same low power field can also be seen the open clusters NGC 663 and NGC 659. It surrounds a 7th magnitude yellowish star, an F5Ia supergiant, which is a possible member of the group.[4]

NGC 654
NGC 654 in Cassiopeia
Credit: Antonio F. Sánchez
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ConstellationCassiopeia
Right ascension01h 44m 00s[1]
Declination+61° 53′ 06″[1]
Distance7,830 ly (2,400 pc)
Apparent magnitude (V)6.5 [1]
Apparent dimensions (V)5'
Physical characteristics
Estimated age14 million years[2]
Other designationsCr 18

It is 2,400 parsec away. It is a very young cluster, aged approximately 15 million years, but it can be as old as 40 million years, with a time spread of star formation of at least ∼20 Myr. The central region of the cluster shows less reddening than the rest of the cluster.[5] An explanation given is the fact that between the solar system and the cluster lie two dust layers, one at 200pc and one more at 1Kpc.[6] Behind the cluster is one more dust layer. The cluster has approx. 80 members. The earliest spectral type is around B0 and members of the cluster are also a few luminous stars, like HD 10494, F5Ia. Also, in the cluster have been found three Be stars.[7]

NGC 654 is assumed to form part of the stellar association Cassiopeia OB8, that is located in the Perseus arm of the Milky Way, along with the open clusters M103, NGC 663, NGC 659, and some supergiant stars scattered between them, all of them having similar ages and distances.[8][9]

  • NGC 654 - by Kanwar Singh
  • Map showing location of NGC 654

References
  1. "NGC 654". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
  2. WEBDA: NGC 654
  3. Stephen James O'Meara (2011). Deep-Sky Companions: The Secret Deep vol. 4. Cambridge University Press. pp. 31–33. ISBN 978-1-139-50007-4.
  4. Huestamendia, G.; del Rio, G.; Mermilliod, J.-C. (July 1993). "UBV photometry of open clusters in the Cassiopeia region. II - Photoelectric observations of NGC 654". Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series. 100 (1): 25–32. Bibcode:1993A&AS..100...25H. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  5. A. K. Pandey; K. Upadhyay; K. Ogura; Ram Sagar; V. Mohan; H. Mito; H. C. Bhatt; B. C. Bhatt (April 2005). "Stellar contents of two young open clusters: NGC 663 and 654". MNRAS. 358 (4): 1290–1308. Bibcode:2005MNRAS.358.1290P. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2005.08784.x.
  6. Biman J. Medhi; Maheswar G.; J. C. Pandey; T. S. Kumar; Ram Sagar (2008). "Optical polarimetric study of open clusters: distribution of interstellar matter towards NGC 654". MNRAS. 388 (1): 105–116. arXiv:0804.4739. Bibcode:2008MNRAS.388..105M. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2008.13405.x. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  7. H.M. Shi - J.Y. Hu (April 1999). "Spectroscopic observations of young open clusters: IC 1805, NGC 654 and NGC 6823" (PDF). Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 136 (2): 313–331. Bibcode:1999A&AS..136..313S. doi:10.1051/aas:1999217. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  8. Negueruela, I.; González-Fernández, C.; Marco, A.; Clark, J. S. (2011). "A massive association around the obscured open cluster RSGC3". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 528: A59. arXiv:1102.0028. Bibcode:2011A&A...528A..59N. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201016102.
  9. Humphreys, R. M. (1978). "Studies of luminous stars in nearby galaxies. I. Supergiants and O stars in the Milky Way". Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. 38: 309–350. Bibcode:1978ApJS...38..309H. doi:10.1086/190559.


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