Collinder 14

Collinder 14 is an open star cluster in the constellation Cassiopeia, also known as Cr 14, NGC 581 and Messier 103 (M103). It is a small, compact cluster of about 170 faint member stars, roughly 8,000 to 9,400 light-years away, spanning about 15 light-years. It stands out as the last object Charles Messier added to his own catalogue, and as one of the most distant open clusters in it. Pierre Méchain discovered it in 1781, and Messier included it without having observed it himself. It is young, about 12 to 25 million years old, and its look is dominated by the bright double star Struve 131, which is not a member but lies in the same line of sight. At magnitude 7.4 it is easy to find in binoculars or a small telescope, near Delta Cassiopeiae.

← Back to catalog ← Back to Top