Observing the Clusters - Winter

Some of the best Open Clusters

Here is a selection of some of the best open clusters from Cassiopeia to Cancer.
All are suitable for binoculars or a small telescope.
All images David Ratledge

  M52
Magnitude: 6.9
Size: 13.0'
Number of stars: 200
Magnitude of brightest star: 8.2
 		 cluster
 Click for image
  NGC 7789
Magnitude: 6.7
Size: 16.0'
Number of stars: 300-1000
Magnitude of brightest star: 10.7
  		 cluster
 Click for image
  NGC188
Magnitude: 8.1
Size: 14.0'
Number of stars: 20 (200 to mag18) Magnitude of brightest star: 12.1
Very old cluster near Pole
 		 cluster
 Click for image
  M103
Magnitude: 7.4
Size: 6.0'
Number of stars: 40
Magnitude of brightest star: 10.6
 		 cluster
 Click for image
  The Owl Cluster, NGC 457
Magnitude: 6.4
Size: 13.0'
Number of stars: 80
Magnitude of brightest star: 8.6
  		 cluster
 Click for image
 NGC 663
Magnitude: 7.1
Size: 16.0'
Number of stars: 80
Magnitude of brightest star: 8.4
My favourite cluster
  		 cluster
 Click for image
  The Double Cluster, NGC869 & 884
Magnitude: 5.3 & 6.1
Size: 30.0' & 30.0'
Number of stars: 200 & 150
Magnitude of brightest star: 6.6 & 8.1
  		 cluster
 Click for image
  M34
Magnitude: 5.2
Size: 35.0'
Number of stars: 100
Magnitude of brightest star: 7.3
 		 cluster
 Click for image
  M38
Magnitude: 6.4
Size: 21.0'
Number of stars: 100
Magnitude of brightest star: 9.5
 		 cluster
 Click for image
  M36
Magnitude: 6.0
Size: 12.0'
Number of stars: 60
Magnitude of brightest star: 8.9
 		 cluster
 Click for image
  M37
Magnitude: 5.6
Size: 24.0'
Number of stars: 150
Magnitude of brightest star: 9.2
  		 cluster
 Click for image
  M35
Magnitude: 5.1
Size: 28.0'
Number of stars: 200
Magnitude of brightest star: 8.2
NGC 2158 30' SW
  		 cluster
 Click for image
  M47
Magnitude: 4.4
Size: 30.0'
Number of stars: 100?
Magnitude of brightest star: 6.7

  		 cluster
 Click for image
  M46
Magnitude: 6.1
Size: 27.0'
Number of stars: 100
Magnitude of brightest star: 8.7
includes planetary nebula ngc2438
  		 cluster
 Click for image
  Beehive Cluster, M44
Magnitude: 3.1
Size: 95.0'
Number of stars: 50
Magnitude of brightest star: 6.3
 		 cluster
 Click for image
  M67
Magnitude: 6.9
Size: 30.0'
Number of stars: 200-500
Magnitude of brightest star: 9.7
Old Cluster
 		 cluster
 Click for image
Return to Clusters homepage