NGC 1502 (also known as the Golden Harp Cluster[6]) is a young[7] open cluster of approximately 60[3] stars in the constellation Camelopardalis, discovered by William Herschel on November 3, 1787.[8] It has a visual magnitude of 6.0 and thus is dimly visible to the naked eye.[3] This cluster is located at a distance of approximately 3,500 light years[1][2] from the Sun, at the outer edge of the Cam OB1 association of co-moving stars, and is likely part of the Orion Arm.[2] The asterism known as Kemble's Cascade appears to "flow" into NGC 1502, but this is just a chance alignment of stars.[9]

The location of NGC 1502 (circled)
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Right ascension04h 07m 48.96s[1]
Declination+62° 19′ 55.2″[1]
Distance3,452 ly (1,058.4 pc)[1]
3,643+313
−290
 ly
 (1,117+96
−89
 pc
)[2]
Apparent magnitude (V)6.0[3]
Apparent dimensions (V)9.7′[1]
Physical characteristics
Radius5.5 ly (1.7 pc)[4]
Estimated age5 Myr[2]
Other designationsNGC 1502,[5] Cr 45
Associations
ConstellationCamelopardalis
See also: Open cluster, List of open clusters
NGC 1502 in infrared

The Trumpler class of NGC 1502 is II3p, indicating poorly populated cluster of stars (p) with a wide brightness range (3). The main sequence turnoff point is not well-defined, so the age estimates range from five to fifteen million years.[7] It is heavily reddened due to interstellar dust.[4] One of the brightest candidate members of the cluster is the eclipsing binary SZ Cam, which is a component of a visual double star ADS 2984.[2] There are eleven variable stars and four candidate variables among the cluster members, including a β Cep, two periodic B-type variables, 2–3 eclipsing variables, and an RR Lyrae star.[7] Five members of the cluster are chemically peculiar.[10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Cantat-Gaudin, T.; Anders, F. (January 2020). "Clusters and mirages: cataloguing stellar aggregates in the Milky Way". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 633: 22. arXiv:1911.07075. Bibcode:2020A&A...633A..99C. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201936691. S2CID 208138247. A99.
  2. ^ a b c d e Topasna, G. A.; et al. (August 2018). "Interstellar polarization and extinction towards the young open cluster NGC 1502". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 615: 16. Bibcode:2018A&A...615A.166T. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201731903. A166.
  3. ^ a b c O'Meara, Steve (2007). Herschel 400 Observing Guide. Cambridge University Press. p. 35. ISBN 9780521858939.
  4. ^ a b Tripathi, A.; et al. (September 2013). "Photometric study of Galactic open cluster NGC 2129, NGC 1502 and King 12". Bulletin of the Astronomical Society of India. 41 (3): 209. Bibcode:2013BASI...41..209T.
  5. ^ "NGC 1502". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
  6. ^ Stoyan, Ronald; Schurig, Stephan (2014). interstellarum Deep Sky Atlas. Erlangen: Cambridge University Press; Oculum-Verlag GmbH. ISBN 978-1-107-50338-0. OCLC 920437579.
  7. ^ a b c d Michalska, G.; et al. (December 2009). "A CCD Search for Variable Stars of Spectral Type B in the Northern Hemisphere Open Clusters. VII. NGC 1502". Acta Astronomica. 59 (4): 349–370. arXiv:0910.3672. Bibcode:2009AcA....59..349M.
  8. ^ Seligman, Courtney. "Celestial Atlas: NGC Objects: NGC 1500 - 1549". cseligman.com. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
  9. ^ Thompson, Robert; Thompson, Barbara (2007). Illustrated Guide to Astronomical Wonders, From Novice to Master Observer. O'Reilly Media. p. 111. ISBN 9780596526856.
  10. ^ Paunzen, E.; et al. (November 2005). "CCD photometric search for peculiar stars in open clusters. VI. NGC 1502, NGC 3105, Stock 16, NGC 6268, NGC 7235 and NGC 7510". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 443 (1): 157–162. arXiv:astro-ph/0508151. Bibcode:2005A&A...443..157P. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20053287. S2CID 17585037.
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