Waid Observatory

Object: M52
Date: July 25, 2011      -      Location: Denton, TX
Telescope: C-14   Mount: MI-250   Camera: ST-10XME   Filters: Astrodon TruBalance / Hutech IDAS
Exposure:   L = 12 X 5 min. (Bin 1X1) - RG&B = 6 X 5 min. each (Bin 2X2)
Click on the image below to view at higher resolution.

 

M52 Open Cluster

 

M52 1

Discovered 1774 by Charles Messier.

Messier 52 is an open cluster located in a rich Milky Way field.  M52 is sometimes referred to as the “Salt and Pepper Cluster”.  It is comprised of approximately 193 member stars.  It is located in the constellation Cassiopeia at a distance of approximately 5000 light years.  The apparent diameter of the cluster is approximately 19 light years.  M52 lies in close proximity to the more famous “Bubble Nebula” and perhaps for this reason it is often overlooked by amateur astronomers.  It is, however, a fine celestial “jewel” that should be an object to behold by anyone using even a small telescope or binoculars.

1http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m052.html

 
Copyright Donald P. Waid