Open cluster · Cassiopeia
NGC 457 Owl Cluster
Also known as: C13
mag 6.47.8′ across
About
NGC 457, the Owl Cluster, is an open cluster of magnitude 6.4 in Cassiopeia, about 7.8′ across.
How to find it
- NGC 457 is in the constellation Cassiopeia.
- Best evenings: around late November it is highest at about 9 pm (10 pm in summer time); a month earlier, two hours later.
- Where on Earth: it is seen well, at least 10° up, from north of 22° S.
- Cassiopeia’s W: Also called the ET Cluster: two bright “eyes” and outstretched arms, 2° from Ruchbah; binoculars or a small telescope.
When it rises and sets tonight, how high it climbs and how much the Moon gets in the way are worked out in your browser for your place.
What you will see
- EyesNot visible to the naked eye.
- Binoculars (10×50)A small knot of stars, partly resolved.
- Telescope (6–8 inch)Dozens of stars, many sharp and some coloured.
For a dark country sky with no Moon. From a city, faint galaxies and nebulae can disappear completely.
Facts
| Designations | NGC 457, C13 |
|---|---|
| Type | Open cluster |
| Magnitude | 6.4The smaller the number, the brighter. |
| Apparent size | 7.8′the full Moon is 31′ across |
| Constellation | Cassiopeia |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 01h 19m 32.6s |
| Declination (J2000) | +58° 17′ 27″ |
More in Cassiopeia
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Sources and credits
Catalog data: OpenNGC by Mattia Verga, CC BY-SA 4.0, and d3-celestial by Olaf Frohn, BSD 3-Clause. All data sources →