NGC 654

Introduction | Map | Find/Identify | My Own Photos | My Own Observations | References

On this page I collect my observations of the open star cluster NGC 654 in the constellation Casiopeia.

 

Introduction

The open star cluster NGC 654 in the constellation Cassiopeia is close to the open star cluster NGC 663. According to Stoyan, it is interesting to observe both, jointly or alternately, depending on the telescope.

Size: 5' x 3' (Stoyan)
Distance: 6,600 light years (Stoyan)
Rating: * (Stoyan)

 

Map

NGC 654 close to NGC 663 and to the left of NGC 457 (Owl Cluster) and M 103. For orientation purposes, the Andromeda Galaxy M 31 is included in the map, as well as the Perseus Double Cluster NGC 884/869 and above it St 2, which, according to Stoyan, is a "must" for small telescopes. (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

 

Find/Identify

Find: The open star cluster NGC 654 is located a little bit below the connecting line between the two stars Segin und Ruchbah in constellation Cassiopeia. Seen from Segin, the star to the left, NGC 654 is located at about 1/3 of the total distance. It is also not far from the open cluster NGC 663, but closer to the connecting line than NGC 663.

Identify: The open star cluster NGC 654 in the constellation Cassiopeia is very hard to identify for me (to the right, there is M 103). Typically, I do not find this cluster at all. Below is the view in SkySafari, together with NGC 663:

 

My Own Photos

Vespera

    

NGC 654ff, Nov 1, 2022 - original (365 frames = 3650 seconds), mosaic

  Evaluation by astrometry.org

 

My Own Observations

Observations Summer to Autumn 2016

Observations September/October 2019

Observations November 2022

 

References

On this Site