NGC 146
A small, young open cluster near Kappa Cassiopeiae.
NGC 146 is a young open cluster located in the constellation Cassiopeia, discovered in 1829 by John Herschel using an 18.7-inch reflecting telescope that had belonged to his father. The cluster sits about half a degree from the bright star Kappa Cassiopeiae, making it fairly easy to find in the sky, but its low apparent magnitude of 9.1 makes it hard to spot. Its high declination of roughly 63° means it is invisible from latitudes below 27° south. Estimated to be around 10,000 light-years (3,000 parsecs) away, NGC 146 lies in the Perseus Arm of the Milky Way, close to another open cluster, King 14. Both clusters follow similar circular orbits within the galaxy’s thin disk, circling the Galactic Center at a distance of about 29,000 light-years (9,000 parsecs) with an orbital period of roughly 255 million years. They likely formed from the same giant molecular cloud but are not gravitationally bound to each other. The cluster is relatively young, containing many B-type and A-type main-sequence stars and pre-main-sequence stars, but few evolved supergiants. Among its most massive members are two Herbig Be stars.
Quick Facts
- Epoch
- J2000
- Constellation
- Cassiopeia
- Ra
- 00 · 33 · 03.9
- Dec
- +63 · 18 · 32
- Dist Ly
- 2.98 ±
- Appmag V
- 9.1
- Age
- 20 Myr
- Names
- Cr 5, OCl 299, C 0030+630
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
NGC 146 was discovered by John Herschel in 1829 using his father's 18.7 inch reflecting telescope. It is located half a degree from the bright star Kappa Cassiopeiae, making it fairly easy to locate in the sky, but its low apparent magnitude of 9.1 makes spotting the cluster itself difficult. Its relatively high declination of about 63° means it is not visible for observers below 27° S.
The cluster is estimated to be about 3,000 parsecs (10,000 light years) away. It lies close to the open cluster King 14, both situated in the Perseus Arm of the Milky Way. The two clusters follow similar circular orbits through the galaxy's thin disk, orbiting at a distance of 9,000 parsecs (29,000 light-years) from the Galactic Center with an orbital period of about 255 million years. They likely originated from the same giant molecular cloud but are not gravitationally bound to each other.
NGC 146 is fairly young, containing numerous B-type and A-type main sequence stars and pre-main-sequence stars, but relatively few evolved supergiants. Among its most massive stars are two Herbig Be stars.
Reader's Guide
NGC 146 holds significance as a young open cluster in Cassiopeia, discovered by John Herschel in 1829. Its proximity to the bright star Kappa Cassiopeiae aids in locating it, though its faint magnitude of 9.1 challenges visual observation. The cluster's youth is evidenced by its abundance of B-type and A-type main sequence stars and pre-main-sequence stars, with few evolved supergiants. The presence of two Herbig Be stars among its most massive members further underscores its early evolutionary stage. Its location in the Perseus Arm, near the open cluster King 14, and their shared orbital characteristics—both orbiting the Galactic Center at about 9,000 parsecs with a period of roughly 255 million years—suggest a common origin from the same giant molecular cloud, though they are not gravitationally bound. This relationship provides insight into star formation processes and the dynamics of cluster evolution within the Milky Way's thin disk. The cluster's distance of about 3,000 parsecs and its high declination limit its visibility to northern hemisphere observers, but it remains a valuable target for studying young stellar populations and the early phases of cluster development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is NGC 146 and what type of object is it?
NGC 146 is a small, young open cluster of stars located in the constellation Cassiopeia. It's a relatively compact grouping of stars that formed not long ago in astronomical terms.
Where in the sky can I find NGC 146?
Look roughly half a degree from the bright star Kappa Cassiopeiae, which serves as a handy anchor point for spotting the cluster. Its declination of about 63° puts it high in the northern sky, so it's best observed from mid-to-high northern latitudes.
How far away is NGC 146 from Earth?
The cluster sits roughly 10,000 light-years (about 3,000 parsecs) from us. It resides within the Perseus Arm of the Milky Way, in the neighborhood of another open cluster.
Who discovered NGC 146 and when?
John Herschel catalogued the cluster in 1829 while working with an 18.7-inch reflecting telescope that had previously been his father William's instrument.
Why is NGC 146 so hard to see with the naked eye?
Its apparent magnitude of 9.1 is well beyond what the unaided eye can detect, so you'll need at least binoculars or a small telescope to pick it out. On top of that, its high declination means anyone south of roughly 27° latitude simply cannot see it at all.
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