Messier 103 (also known as M103, or NGC 581) is an open cluster where a few hundred, mainly very faint, stars figure in Cassiopeia.[a] It was discovered in 1781 by Charles Messier's friend and collaborator Pierre Méchain.[3] It is located between 8,000 to 9,500 light-years from the Solar System[1][3] and ranging over about 15 light years. It holds about 40 certain-member stars,[3] two of which have magnitudes 10.5, and a 10.8 red giant, which is the brightest within the cluster. A bright known foreground object is the star Struve 131,[4] not a member of the cluster. The cluster may have 172 stars if including those down to 50% probability of a gravitational tie.[4] M103 is about 22 million years old.[5]
After the discovery of Messier 101 through 103, Messier had no cause to carry out more detailed observations of these clusters and included them as an addition to his catalogue using the data of Méchain.[4][6] In 1783, William Herschel observed M103 and described the region as 14 to 16 pL (pretty large stars) and with great many eS or extremely faint ones.[7]Åke Wallenquist then identified 40 stars in M103 while Antonín Bečvář raised the number to 60. Archinal and Hynes then determined that the cluster had 172 stars.[4]Admiral William Henry Smyth was the first to see the 10.8-magnitude red giant, citing the double star on Cassiopeia's knee, about a degree to the northeast of Delta Cassiopeiae (Ruchbah/Rukhbah).
Observing with binoculars
Messier 103 has been rated by the Astronomical League[4] as an easy[8] object to find and the cluster is visible even with the use of binoculars.[4][9] M103 can be seen as a nebulous fan-shaped patch, and takes up about a 6 arcminute′ circle (a tenth of a degree), about a fifth the apparent diameter of the moon. To find M103, it is suggested that the observer center their binoculars on Ruchbah or the bottom left (or right against a northern horizon, as it more often is from Earth) star of the signature “W” asterism of Cassiopeia. The cluster will appear as a hazy patch about 1⁄3 of a field/line toward Epsilon Cassiopeiae, a northern endpoint of the W, on the outer side of the W.
^ ab Sanner, J.; Geffert, M.; Brunzendorf, J.; Schmoll, J. (1999). "Photometric and kinematic studies of open star clusters. I. NGC 581 (M 103)". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 349: 448–456. arXiv:astro-ph/9908059. Bibcode:1999A&A...349..448S.
^"Messier 103". SEDS Messier Catalog. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
^ abcRobert Bruce Thompson [1], M103 (open cluster in Cassiopeia). Accessed online 13 April 2011
^ abcdef"Messier 103: Observations and Descriptions". SEDS. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
^ Huang, W; Gies, D.R.; McSwain, M.V. (2010). "A stellar rotation census of B stars: from ZAMS to TAMS". Astrophysical Journal. 722: 605–619. arXiv:1008.1761. Bibcode:2010ApJ...722..605H. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/722/1/605. S2CID 118532653.
^. One Minute Astronomer. Archived from the original on 22 February 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
^"Messier 103". Universe Today. 7 January 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
^"Messier 103". Perez Media. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
^. Zimbio. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
^It remains below the northern horizon below the 30th parallel south, and viewing is not ideal until for fifteen degrees of rising above that horizon, that is from the 15th parallel south, northwards
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Messier 103.
Open Cluster M103 @ SEDS Messier pages
Open Cluster M103 @ Skyhound.com
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day: Distant Open Cluster M103 (7 February 2001)
Messier 103 on WikiSky: DSS2, SDSS, GALEX, IRAS, Hydrogen α, X-Ray, Astrophoto, Sky Map, Articles and images
messier, also, known, m103, open, cluster, where, hundred, mainly, very, faint, stars, figure, cassiopeia, discovered, 1781, charles, messier, friend, collaborator, pierre, méchain, located, between, light, years, from, solar, system, ranging, over, about, lig. Messier 103 also known as M103 or NGC 581 is an open cluster where a few hundred mainly very faint stars figure in Cassiopeia a It was discovered in 1781 by Charles Messier s friend and collaborator Pierre Mechain 3 It is located between 8 000 to 9 500 light years from the Solar System 1 3 and ranging over about 15 light years It holds about 40 certain member stars 3 two of which have magnitudes 10 5 and a 10 8 red giant which is the brightest within the cluster A bright known foreground object is the star Struve 131 4 not a member of the cluster The cluster may have 172 stars if including those down to 50 probability of a gravitational tie 4 M103 is about 22 million years old 5 Messier 103Open cluster Messier 103 in CassiopeiaObservation data J2000 0 epoch Right ascension01h 33 2mDeclination 60 42 Distance10 thousand light years 3 kpc 1 Apparent magnitude V 7 4 2 Apparent dimensions V 6 0 Physical characteristicsOther designationsNGC 581 Cr 5AssociationsSee also Open cluster List of open clusters Contents 1 Observation history 1 1 Observing with binoculars 2 Gallery 3 See also 4 References and footnotes 5 External linksObservation history EditAfter the discovery of Messier 101 through 103 Messier had no cause to carry out more detailed observations of these clusters and included them as an addition to his catalogue using the data of Mechain 4 6 In 1783 William Herschel observed M103 and described the region as 14 to 16 pL pretty large stars and with great many eS or extremely faint ones 7 Ake Wallenquist then identified 40 stars in M103 while Antonin Becvar raised the number to 60 Archinal and Hynes then determined that the cluster had 172 stars 4 Admiral William Henry Smyth was the first to see the 10 8 magnitude red giant citing the double star on Cassiopeia s knee about a degree to the northeast of Delta Cassiopeiae Ruchbah Rukhbah Observing with binoculars Edit Messier 103 has been rated by the Astronomical League 4 as an easy 8 object to find and the cluster is visible even with the use of binoculars 4 9 M103 can be seen as a nebulous fan shaped patch and takes up about a 6 arcminute circle a tenth of a degree about a fifth the apparent diameter of the moon To find M103 it is suggested that the observer center their binoculars on Ruchbah or the bottom left or right against a northern horizon as it more often is from Earth star of the signature W asterism of Cassiopeia The cluster will appear as a hazy patch about 1 3 of a field line toward Epsilon Cassiopeiae a northern endpoint of the W on the outer side of the W Gallery Edit M103 image from Aladin Sky Atlas Finder chart for M103See also EditList of Messier objectsReferences and footnotes Edit a b Sanner J Geffert M Brunzendorf J Schmoll J 1999 Photometric and kinematic studies of open star clusters I NGC 581 M 103 Astronomy and Astrophysics 349 448 456 arXiv astro ph 9908059 Bibcode 1999A amp A 349 448S Messier 103 SEDS Messier Catalog Retrieved 30 April 2022 a b c Robert Bruce Thompson 1 M103 open cluster in Cassiopeia Accessed online 13 April 2011 a b c d e f Messier 103 Observations and Descriptions SEDS Retrieved 13 April 2011 Huang W Gies D R McSwain M V 2010 A stellar rotation census of B stars from ZAMS to TAMS Astrophysical Journal 722 605 619 arXiv 1008 1761 Bibcode 2010ApJ 722 605H doi 10 1088 0004 637X 722 1 605 S2CID 118532653 3 Clusters in Cassiopeia One Minute Astronomer Archived from the original on 22 February 2011 Retrieved 14 April 2010 Messier 103 Universe Today 7 January 2010 Retrieved 14 April 2010 Messier 103 Perez Media Retrieved 14 April 2010 The Constellation Cassiopeia Zimbio Archived from the original on 11 October 2012 Retrieved 14 April 2010 It remains below the northern horizon below the 30th parallel south and viewing is not ideal until for fifteen degrees of rising above that horizon that is from the 15th parallel south northwardsExternal links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Messier 103 Open Cluster M103 SEDS Messier pages Open Cluster M103 Skyhound com NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day Distant Open Cluster M103 7 February 2001 Messier 103 on WikiSky DSS2 SDSS GALEX IRAS Hydrogen a X Ray Astrophoto Sky Map Articles and imagesPortals Astronomy Stars Outer space Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Messier 103 amp oldid 1141283956, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
