NGC 7142

Also Known as: Cr 442

Object Type: Open Cluster

Constellation: Cygnus

Distance from Earth: 6,200 light years

Apparent Magnitude: 9.3

Coordinates: RA 21H 45M 10S DEC 65 deg 46 min 18 sec

Actual Size:

Apparent Dimensions: 9.6 arcminutes

Discovered by: NGC 7142 was discovered by William Herschel on October 18, 1794

Description: NGC 7142 is an open cluster about 6,200 light-years away in the constellation Cepheus. NGC 7142 is located near the reflection nebula NGC 7129, which is a first indication that the cluster may be obscured by an interstellar cloud.
Many studies have demonstrated this to be true dating back to the earliest investigations of this cluster.
A thorough study of the Cepheus region concluded "that no part of the field may be considered unobscured."
Due to the uncertain amount of interstellar reddening, precise determination of age for this cluster has been especially difficult. Based on NGC 7142's color-magnitude diagram, it is believed that this cluster is close in age to the old open clusters M 67 and NGC 188.
This makes it one of the oldest open clusters currently known.
Although thought to be an old cluster, NGC 7142 contains a surprisingly high number of blue stars.
This runs contrary to the standard model of cluster evolution which predicts that old clusters should be devoid of such stars since bluer stars are more massive and thus evolve and die off faster, which should prevent them from still being present.
Such stars are said to be blue stragglers. A very distant 16.4 magnitude spiral galaxy (PGC 97261) is visible within the confines of the open cluster.

Click Below Image(s) for Full Size:

NGC 7142 is a Open Cluster in the Cepheus constellation. NGC 7142 is situated close to the northern celestial pole and, as such, it is visible for most part of the year from the northern hemisphere.
Given its visual magnitude, NGC 7142 is visible with the help of a binocular with a 60-70mm aperture or a small telescope..
NGC 7142 is best seen in the late summer months hen Cygnus is overhead.

Platesolve

NGC 7142 Open Cluster

Imaging Details
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