M52 = NGC7654 (23h 24.2m +61°35´, 6.9 mag. )
This rich open star cluster in Cassiopeia was discovered by Messier on Sept. 7, 1774. Located more than 3,000 ly away, it measures over 10 ly across and cosists of some 200 stars.
M52: The Constellation Cassiopeia
Cassiopeia is a northern constellation which greek mythology considered to represent a vain queen. It is one of the 88 modern constellations, and was also one of the 48 listed by Ptolemy.
M52 is an open cluster of stars situated within the constellation of Cassiopeia. It can be seen against the backdrop of a Milky Way field.
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.
These are M52 and M103. Both are of apparent 7th magnitude, and quite easy to view.
Return to constellations homepage from Cassiopeia constellation
SBI! ...
M52 (NGC 7654) is an open cluster of about 120 stars. It's found 6º NW of rho Cas. Burnham gives the best method of finding the cluster: draw a line from alpha Cas to beta Cas, then continue this line, doubling its length.
The Open Cluster M103 is quite easy to find as are the double stars, try locating M52 by using the star hopping technique.
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.
Casiopea es una constelación circumpolar del norte, y puede verse durante todo el año. Es el hogar de varios racimos o grupos de estrellas. M52 es un gran racimo en el borde occidental.
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 ...
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.
 See also: Cassiopeia, Cluster, Star, Sky, Open
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