< Messier Index
Messier 34

w:2MASS image of M34
(taken in w:infrared band; falsecolor)
Observation data (J2000.0 epoch)
Constellation Perseus
Right ascension 02h 42.1m[1]
Declination +42° 46[1]
Distance 1.4 kly[citation needed] (0.4 kPc)
Apparent magnitude (V) 5.5[citation needed]
Apparent dimensions (V) 35.0[citation needed]
Other designations NGC 1039[1]

Messier 34 (also known as M 34 or NGC 1039) is an w:open cluster in the w:constellation Perseus. It was discovered by w:Giovanni Batista Hodierna before w:1654 and included by w:Charles Messier in his catalog of w:comet-like objects in w:1764.

M34 is at a distance of about 1,400 w:light-years away from w:Earth and consists of some 100 w:stars. It spans about 35' on the sky which translates to a true radius of 7 w:light years. The cluster is just visible to the naked eye in very dark conditions, well away from city lights. It is well seen in w:binoculars.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "SIMBAD Astronomical Database". Results for Messier 34. http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/Simbad. Retrieved 2006-12-08.
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