NGC7160 is a small, open star cluster in the constellation Cepheus. It consists of the compact group of 20-30 stars in the center of this image. It has a measured distance of 2,500 light years from Earth.
Of special interest is a close binary star system, V497, which includes the fourth brightest star in the central cluster and a close companion star. V497 is a physical double star (two stars rotating about their common center of gravity), and is classified as a "detached binary," meaning that there is little if any mass transfer between the two stars since neither is within the "Roche lobe" of the other.
Open Star Cluster NGC7160 in Cepheus
Date Taken:September 25, 2009
Location Taken: Conditions of Location:FWHM 1.9
Equipment Used:14.5" Ritchey-Chretien telescope, SBIG STL11000 CCD camera, Astrodon RGB filters, TCC, PIR, remote guide head used with Takahashi Sky90 for autoguiding, T-Point used for polar alignment (required for each imaging session due to my portable setup) with 0.7' polar alignment accuracy after two 12-star mapping runs.
Processing Used:11 x 60 seconds LRGB, guided (using a remote guide head and Takahashi Sky90 refractor telescope), 1x1 binning, processed in Maxim DL and Photoshop (total exposure 44 minutes).
Distance from Location:2,500 light years
Constellation:Cepheus (husband of Cassiopeia and father of Andromeda in Greek mythology)
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