2MASS image of M34 (taken in infrared band; falsecolor)

Open Cluster M34 (also known as Messier Object 34 or NGC 1039) is an open cluster in the constellation Perseus. It was discovered by Giovanni Batista Hodierna before 1654 and included by Charles Messier in his catalog of comet-like objects in 1764. In astronomy, an epoch is a moment in time for which celestial coordinates or orbital elements are specified. ... Right ascension (RA; symbol α: Greek letter alpha; celestial longitude) is the astronomical term for one of the two coordinates of a point on the celestial sphere when using the equatorial coordinate system. ... In astronomy, declination (dec) is one of the two coordinates of the equatorial coordinate system, the other being either right ascension or hour angle. ... A light year, abbreviated ly, is the distance light travels in one year: roughly 9. ... The apparent magnitude (m) of a star, planet or other celestial body is a measure of its apparent brightness as seen by an observer on Earth. ... In astronomy, the solar mass is a unit of mass used to express the mass of stars and larger objects such as galaxies. ... Download high resolution version (602x710, 95 KB)M34 2MASS Atlas image. ... Download high resolution version (602x710, 95 KB)M34 2MASS Atlas image. ... Observations for the Two Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS) began in 1997 and were completed in 2001 at two telescopes located one each in the northern and southern hemispheres (Mt. ... Image of a small dog taken in mid-infrared (thermal) light (false color) Infrared (IR) radiation is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength longer than that of visible light, but shorter than that of microwave radiation. ... An open cluster is a group of up to a few thousand stars that were formed from the same giant molecular cloud, and are still loosely gravitationally bound to each other. ... Orion is a remarkable constellation, visible from most places on the globe at one time or another during the year. ... Perseus is a northern constellation, named after the Greek hero who slew the monster Medusa. ... Giovanni Batista Hodierna (1597-1660) was an astronomer at the court of the Duke of Montechiaro. ... Events April 5 - Signing of the Treaty of Westminster, ending the First Anglo-Dutch War. ... Charles Messier Charles Messier (June 26, 1730 – April 12, 1817) was a French astronomer who in 1774 published a catalogue of 45 deep sky objects such as nebulae and star clusters. ... Comet Hale-Bopp For other uses, see Comet (disambiguation). ... 1764 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

M34 is at a distance of about 1,400 light-years away from Earth and consists of some 100 stars. It spans about 35' on the sky which translates to a true radius of 7 light years. The cluster is just visible to the naked eye in very dark conditions, well away from city lights. It is well seen in binoculars. A light year (or light-year, or lightyear), abbreviated ly, is the distance light travels in one year: about 9. ... Earth is the third planet from the Sun. ... STAR is an acronym for: Scientific and Technological Advanced Research Labs, a fictional research organization in the DC Comics universe. ... A light year, abbreviated ly, is the distance light travels in one year: roughly 9. ... Binoculars Binocular telescopes, or binoculars, are two identical or mirror-symmetrical telescopes mounted side-by-side and aligned to point accurately in the same direction, one to be viewed through each of the users eyes. ...

References

• Membership of Stars in NGC 1039 (M34): NASA Astrophysics Data System link to an article by B. F. Jones and Charles F. Prosser.

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External links

• Messier 34, SEDS Messier pages
• Messier 34 Amateur Image by Waid Observatory