Open Star Cluster NGC7160 in Cepheus

Description:

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.

Image Name:

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)

Other Link:

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