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NGC 2281

Coordinates: Sky map 06h 48m 18s, +41° 05′ 00″
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NGC 2281
NGC 2281 (taken from Stellarium)
Credit: Roberto Mura
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Right ascension06h 48m 17.(0)s[1]
Declination+41° 04′ 4(2)″[1]
Distance1,722+104
−91
 ly
(528+32
−28
 pc
[2])
Apparent magnitude (V)5.4[3]
Apparent dimensions (V)25[3]
Physical characteristics
Estimated age610[4] million
Other designationsCr 116, Mel 51, C0645+411, OCL-446[5]
Associations
ConstellationAuriga
See also: Open cluster, List of open clusters

NGC 2281, also known as the Broken Heart Cluster,[6] is an open cluster of stars in the northern constellation of Auriga. It was discovered by English astronomer William Herschel on March 4, 1788, and described as a, "cluster of coarsely scattered pretty [bright] stars, pretty rich".[7] The Trumpler class for NGC 2281 is I3p, indicating a poor (p) but compact (I) grouping with a wide range of brightness (3).[8] It is located at a distance of approximately 1,720 ly from the Sun and is 630–661 million years old.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Wu, Zhen-Yu; et al. (November 2009), "The orbits of open clusters in the Galaxy", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 399 (4): 2146–2164, arXiv:0909.3737, Bibcode:2009MNRAS.399.2146W, doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2009.15416.x, S2CID 6066790.
  2. ^ a b Terrell, Dirk; et al. (January 2021), "Analysis of the Open Cluster NGC 2281", Galaxies, 9 (1): 7, Bibcode:2021Galax...9....7T, doi:10.3390/galaxies9010007.
  3. ^ a b O'Meara, Steve (2007), Herschel 400 Observing Guide, Cambridge University Press, pp. 25–26, ISBN 978-0521858939.
  4. ^ Kharchenko, N. V.; et al. (2013), "Global survey of star clusters in the Milky Way. II. The catalogue of basic parameters", Astronomy & Astrophysics, 558: A53, arXiv:1308.5822, Bibcode:2013A&A...558A..53K, doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201322302, S2CID 118548517.
  5. ^ "NGC 2281". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  6. ^ Stoyan, Ronald; Schurig, Stephan (2014). interstellarum Deep Sky Atlas. Erlangen: Cambridge University Press; Oculum-Verlag GmbH. ISBN 978-1-107-50338-0. OCLC 920437579.
  7. ^ O'Meara, Stephen James (June 30, 2011), Deep-Sky Companions: The Secret Deep, Cambridge University Press, p. 134, ISBN 9780521198769.
  8. ^ Vasilevskis, S.; Balz, A. G. A. (1959), "Relative proper motions of stars in the region of the open cluster NGC 2281", The Astrophysical Journal, 64: 170–174, Bibcode:1959AJ.....64..170V, doi:10.1086/107917.
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