NGC 663, NGC 659, NGC 654 (, M 103)

Introduction | Map | Find/Identify | My Best Own Photos | My Own Observations | References || Appendix: My Own Photos

On this page I collect my observations of the open star clusters NGC 663, NGC 654, and NGC 659 in the constellation Casiopeia.

Introduction

The open star cluster NGC 663 in the constellation Cassiopeia is close to the open star cluster NGC 654, and, according to Stoyan, it is interesting to observe both, jointly or alternately, depending on the telescope. In the telescope, I only found NGC 663 and saw a lot of small stars and star pairs. Furthermore, the open star cluster NGC 659 is close to NGC 663 (on the opposite side).

NGC 663 is part of the OB association Cassiopeia OB8, to which, among others, NGC 654 and M 103 belong. NGC 663 is considered to be the most massive star cluster and core of Cassiopeia OB8.

With the Vespera, I was able to see NGC 663, NGC 659, NGC 654 and M 103 in the same field of view.

Map

NGC 663 close to NGC 654 (and to NGC 659, not shown) and to the left of M 103 and NGC 457 (Owl Cluster). 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 663 is located somewhat below and nearly at the middle of the connecting line between the two stars Segin und Ruchbah in constellation Cassiopeia. It forms an obtuse triangle with these two stars.

Identify: NGC 663 in the constellation Cassiopeia is quite difficult for me to identify, although not as difficult as M 103 or even NGC 654. After all, it is the only open star cluster in the area that strikes me with a certain collection of stars.

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, NGC 663 together with NGC 654:

(Images Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

My Best Own Photos

eVscope

NGC 663 - Sep 7, 2020		NGC 663 - Oct 19, 2020		NGC 663 - Oct 19, 2020
NGC 663 - Sep 7, 2020, photo on top processed		NGC 663 - Oct 19, 2020, photo on top processed		NGC 663 - Oct 19, 2020, photo on top processed

eVscope 2

NGC 663 - Nov 24, 2022		NGC 663 - Nov 24, 2022, photo left processed

Vespera

NGC 663ff, Nov 1, 2022 - original (365 frames = 3650 seconds), mosaic		Evaluation by astrometry.org

Vespera Pro

M 103ff, Mar 5, 2025 - 2000 (154 frames = 1540 s), mosaic		M 103ff, Mar 5, 2025 - 2000 (154 Frames = 1540 s), mosaic, processed
NGC 663, Mar 5, 2025 - (154 Frames = 1540 s), mosaic, processed, section (1:1)		Evaluation by nova.astrometry.org
NGC 654, Mar 5, 2025 - (154 Frames = 1540 s), mosaic, processed, section (1:1)		NGC 659, Mar 5, 2025 - (154 Frames = 1540 s), mosaic, processed, section (1:1)
M 103, Mar 5, 2025 - (154 Frames = 1540 s), mosaic, processed, section (1:1)

My Own Observations

Observations Summer to Autumn 2016

• Beginning of October 2016 (Sumène, Haute Loire, France: Heritage 100P): NGC 663 observed at different magnifications; NGC 654 probably not found...

Observations September/October 2018

• Sep 17, 2018 (Sumène, Frankreich: PS 72/432, AZ Pronto Mount, TS binoculars): NGC 663 probably seen with PS 72/432 (in TS bino a glow, just as Karkoschka writes)
• Sep 20, 2018 (Sumène, Frankreich: PS 72/432, AZ Pronto Mount, TS binoculars): NGC 663 observed with PS 72/432, a lot of small stars and star pairs, also with 7 mm; a glow in the TS bino
• Sep 22, 2018 (Sumène, Frankreich: PS 72/432, AZ Pronto Mount, TS binoculars): NGC 663 observed with PS 72/432, ditto
• Sep 28, 2018 (Sumène, Frankreich: PS 72/432, AZ Pronto Mount, TS binoculars): Found NGC 663 again and again (also with TS)
• Oct 4, 2018 (Sumène, Frankreich: PS 72/432, AZ Pronto Mount): NGC 663 observed with PS 72/432 once more
• November 1, 2018 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Skymax-127, TS binoculars): NGC 663 observed with Skymax-127 at various magnifications; also observed with TS binoculars

NGC 654 never found...

Observations September/October 2019

• Oct 3, 2019 (Sumène, France: StarTravel 120/600, AZ Pronto Mount): NGC 663 probably seen with 24 mm, maybe also seen with 35 mm, NGC 654 probably not found.

Observations January/February 2020

• January 20, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: C8 on Star Discovery mount (manual)): NGC 663 found
• February 5-6, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): NGC 663 photographed
• February 15, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): NGC 663 photographed

Observations September/October 2020

• September 7, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): NGC 663 photographed in the new rectangular format without overlay
• October 19, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): NGC 663 photographed (r.f., n.o.)

Observations November 2022

• November 1, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera): NGC 663 photographed together with M 103, NGC 659, and NGC 654 as a mosaic.
• November 24, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope2): NGC 663 photographed

Observations March 2025

• March 5, 2025 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera Pro): NGC 663 photographed together with M 103, NGC 659, and NGC 654 as a mosaic.

References

• NGC 663 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_663
• NGC 659 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_659
• NGC 654 (Wikipedia): de.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_654
• Messier 103 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_103

On this Site

• Sky-Watcher Heritage 100P Information (4" Dobson)
• Sky-Watcher Skymax-127 OTA Information (5" Maksutov-Cassegrain)
• Omegon Photography Scope 72/432 ED OTA Information (2.8" Refractor)
• Sky-Watcher StarTravel 120/600 OTA Information (4.7" Refractor, Borrowed)
• Celestron C8 OTA Information (8" Schmidt-Cassegrain)
• Unistellar eVscope Information
• Unistellar eVscope 2 Information
• Vaonis Vespera - Information
• Vaonis Vespera Pro - Information
• Sky-Watcher Star Discovery AZ GoTo Mount Information
• Sky-Watcher AZ Pronto Mount Information
• My Binoculars

Appendix: My Own Photos

eVscope

NGC 663 - Feb 5, 2020		NGC 663 - Feb 6, 2020
NGC 663 - Feb 15, 2020, processed		NGC 663 - Feb 15, 2020
NGC 663 - Sep 7, 2020		NGC 663 - Oct 19, 2020		NGC 663 - Oct 19, 2020
NGC 663 - Sep 7, 2020, photo on top processed		NGC 663 - Oct 19, 2020, photo on top processed		NGC 663 - Oct 19, 2020, photo on top processed

eVscope 2

NGC 663 - Nov 24, 2022		NGC 663 - Nov 24, 2022, photo left processed

Vespera

NGC 663ff, Nov 1, 2022 - original (365 frames = 3650 seconds)		Evaluation by astrometry.org

Vespera Pro

M 103ff, Mar 5, 2025 - 2000 (154 frames = 1540 s), mosaic		M 103ff, Mar 5, 2025 - 2000 (154 Frames = 1540 s), mosaic, processed
NGC 663, Mar 5, 2025 - (154 Frames = 1540 s), mosaic, processed, section (1:1)		Evaluation by nova.astrometry.org
NGC 654, Mar 5, 2025 - (154 Frames = 1540 s), mosaic, processed, section (1:1)		NGC 659, Mar 5, 2025 - (154 Frames = 1540 s), mosaic, processed, section (1:1)