Messier 52
Open cluster in the constellation Cassiopeia
title: "Messier 52" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["open-clusters", "cassiopeia-(constellation)", "messier-objects", "ngc-objects", "perseus-arm", "astronomical-objects-discovered-in-1774", "discoveries-by-charles-messier"] description: "Open cluster in the constellation Cassiopeia" topic_path: "general/open-clusters" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_52" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Open cluster in the constellation Cassiopeia ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox open cluster"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Messier 52 |
| image | [[Image:M52atlas.jpg |
| caption | Open cluster Messier 52 in Cassiopeia |
| epoch | J2000 |
| constellation | Cassiopeia |
| ra | |
| dec | |
| dist_ly | 1.4 kpc |
| appmag_v | 7.3 |
| size_v | |
| mass_msol | |
| radius_ly | |
| age | 158.5 Myr |
| names | NGC 7654, Cr 455, C 2322+613, OCl 260 |
| :: |
| name = Messier 52 | image = [[Image:M52atlas.jpg|300px]] | caption = Open cluster Messier 52 in Cassiopeia | credit = | epoch = J2000 | class = | constellation = Cassiopeia | ra = | dec = | dist_ly = 1.4 kpc | dist_pc = | appmag_v = 7.3 | size_v = | mass_msol = | radius_ly = | age = 158.5 Myr | notes = | names = NGC 7654, Cr 455, C 2322+613, OCl 260
Messier 52 or M52, also known as NGC 7654 or the Scorpion Cluster, is an open cluster of stars in the highly northern constellation of Cassiopeia. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1774. It can be seen from Earth under a good night sky with binoculars. The brightness of the cluster is influenced by extinction, which is stronger in the southern half. Its metallicity is somewhat below that of the Sun, and is estimated to be [Fe/H] = −0.05 ± 0.01.
R. J. Trumpler classified the cluster appearance as II2r, indicating a rich cluster with little central concentration and a medium range in the brightness of the stars. This was later revised to I2r, denoting a dense core. The cluster has a core radius of 0.91 ± and a tidal radius of 13.1 ±. It has an estimated age of 158.5 million years and a mass of .
The magnitude 8.3 supergiant star BD +60°2532 is a probable member of the cluster, so too 18 candidate slowly pulsating B stars, one being a Delta (δ) Scuti variable, and three candidate Gamma Doradus (γ Dor) variables. There may also be three Be stars. The core of the cluster shows a lack of interstellar matter, which may be due to supernovae explosion(s) early in the cluster's history.
References and footnotes
References
- "Messier 52".
- "M 52".
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