Messier 34
Star cluster in Perseus · 1,500 light-years
🔭 Explore Messier 34 in the 3D map →View Messier 34 images →| Type | Star cluster |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Perseus |
| Right ascension | 2h 42m 07s |
| Declination | +42° 45′ |
| Object distance | 1,500 light-years |
| Apparent magnitude | 5.2 |
| Apparent size | 22.5′ (arc-minutes) |
| Approx. true diameter | 9.8 light-years across |
| Also known as | M34 · NGC 1039 |
Messier 34 is a star cluster (also catalogued as NGC 1039) in Perseus — a gravitationally bound family of stars sharing a common origin. It was recorded by Charles Messier in his famous catalogue of 110 deep-sky objects. It spans roughly 22.5 arc-minutes on the sky. At about magnitude 5.2, it is bright enough to glimpse with the unaided eye under a dark sky.
Although it appears about 22.5′ wide on the sky, its real span is roughly 9.8 light-years — the difference is a measure of how far away it lies.
Observing Messier 34
Messier 34 lies in the constellation Perseus and is best placed in the evening sky around October. Its maximum altitude above the horizon depends on your latitude. It is best placed for observers in the northern hemisphere, and sits low for those far south. At its brightness it can be found with the unaided eye under a dark sky and is easy in binoculars.
See Messier 34 in Universe Finder
Open the interactive 3D map to fly to Messier 34 and see it in context among the real stars around it. Launch the 3D view →
Sources
- Position, magnitude and angular size from the OpenNGC catalogue (Mattia Verga).
- Object identity cross-referenced with SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg).
- Image credits and the original observation source are linked with each photograph.
Related objects
- Pleiades — star cluster
- Hercules Cluster — star cluster
- Small Sgr Star Cloud — star cluster
- Messier 25 — star cluster
- Messier 103 — star cluster