Waid Observatory

Object: M67
Date: Dec. 26, 2005      -      Location: Margate, FL
Telescope: MK-69   Mount: LXD-650   Camera: ST-10XME   Filters: Astrodon TruBalance
Exposure: L = 6 X 5 min. (Bin 1X1)   R G & B = 3 X 5 min. each (Bin 2X2)
Click on the image below to view at higher resolution.

 

M 67 - Open Cluster in Cancer

 

M67 1

M67 is an open cluster of stars in the constellation Cancer.  It is approximately 2,700 light years distant. The age of the cluster is about 4 billion years old. This is very old for an open cluster.  Only a few open clusters are found to be older than M67.  The age of M67 is the same order of magnitude as our solar system and many of its stars have the same chemical composition as our sun.  This makes M67 an appropriate object for study of solar-type stars.  More than 100 sun-like stars have been identified in M67.

1http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m067.html

 
Copyright Donald P. Waid