M103 = NGC581 ( 1h 33.2m +60°42´, 7.4 mag. )
This open cluster in Cassiopeia was discovered by Mechain in 1781 and it was the last object Messier included in his Catalogue. It is located about 8,100 ly away and measures 15 ly across.
M103 is one of the latest additions to the Messier catalog. It was discovered by Pierre Mechain and included in the catalog before Messier had a chance to observe it directly.
M103 (NGC 581) is another open cluster, with about forty stars. It's 1º NE of delta Cas, or 1.5º due north of chi Cas.
The Open Cluster M103 is quite easy to find as are the double stars, try locating M52 by using the star hopping technique.
These are M52 and M103. Both are of apparent 7th magnitude, and quite easy to view.
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SBI! ...
M52 (open cluster)
M103 (open cluster)
The Story of Perseus
Take a look at the story of how Perseus slew Medusa, the mother of Pegasus, and rescued Andromeda, the daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia, from the sea monster Cetus.
*M103: Discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781, this open cluster with an apparent brightness of 7.4m lies at a distance of approximately 8,130 ly. The cluster occupies a field 6' in diameter.
5 light-years (ly) away from our Sun, Sol, in the part (1:47:44.8+63:51:9.0, ICRS 2000.0) of Constellation Cassiopeia, the Lady of the Chair -- near Segin (Epsilon Cassiopeiae) and M103, northeast of Ruckbah (Delta Cassiopeiae) and the Double Cluster, ...
On the left is what you actually see in the sky. On the right is a diagram of the official constellation. The splotches labeled M52 and M103 are distant star clusters. Photo and diagram courtesy of O. Richard Norton, Science Graphics, Bend, Ore.
Triple star iota Cas
Variable star rho Cas
Diffuse Nebulae I 1805, I 1848, I 59, NGC 281
Planetary Nebula NGC 7635
Open star clusters: M52, M103, NGC 663, NGC 129, NGC 133, NGC 146, NGC 457, NGC 559, NGC 654, NGC 663 ...
The final published version appeared again in Connaissance des Temps for 1784 (published in 1781) which contained objects through M103.
Cassiopeia contains two open clusters, M52 (magnitude 7.3) and M103 (magnitude 7.4). The srongest radio source, Cassiopeia A, emanates from Cassiopeia; it is the remnant of a supernova which ocurred about 1660 A.D., and is 10,000 light years from us.
Messier Object 103 - M103
Messier Object 104 - M104
Messier Object 105 - M105
Messier Object 106 - M106
Messier Object 107 - M107
Messier Object 108 - M108
Messier Object 109 - M109
Messier Object 110 - M110
The Messier Marathon ...
 See also: Cluster, Cassiopeia, Sky, Open, Star
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