Alpha Centauri's Universe: Exploration Of M103 (NGC 581)

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The irregular star cluster M103, or NGC581, is a distant cluster in the constellation Cassiopeia. One of the more remote open clusters, at about 8000 light years, M103s relatively small angular size still corresponds to a sizable 14 light year diameter (this image is only 8.6 arc minutes across). The bright binary (upper right, NW) is not part of the cluster. M103 may be over 20 million years old (there seems to be some dispute over its actual age). M103 is one of the 'extra' objects added from Méchain's observations but not actually observed by Messier.

Credit: NOAO

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				Set Nineteen: Image 15 of 20: M103 (NGC 581)