Introduction | Map | Find/Identify | Own Observations | References
On this page I collect my observations of the open star cluster St 2 (Muscle Man) in the constellation Cassiopeia.
The open star cluster St 2 in the constellation Cassiopeia got its name Muscle Man due to its characteristic shape and is, according to Stoyan, a "must" for small telescopes. Using small magnifications or binoculars, it can be observed together with the Perseus Double Cluster, which makes the most pleasure, as Stoyan points out. Using binoculars, I had, however, difficulties in finding the "Muscle Man" at all... But I did find it with the PS 72/432 refractor.
Stock 2 - By Roberto Mura (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons)
St 2 (Muscle Man)
Size: 80' Stoyan)
Distance: 1200 light years
Rating: ** (Stoyan)
Map: Muscle Man St 2 between Cassiopeia and Perseus (this open star cluster belongs to Cassiopeia) and Perseus Double Cluster NGC 884/869 (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)
Find: To find the Muscle Man St 2, it is easiest to first search (and find) the double star cluster NGC 884/869 in Perseus. Above the double cluster, there is a kind of oval (see the arrows in the map below), which helps me to identify the double cluster and to find the Muscle Man St 2, because it is located to the left of the upper end of the oval:
However, it is perhaps easier to draw a line from the Perseus double cluster, if found, to the star Segin at the end of the "W" of Cassiopeia. On about 1/3 of the way, as seen from the double cluster and slightly above the line, the Muscle Man St 2 is located:
Identify: When you have reached the star cluster St 2, it is in principle already identified. I often have, however, problems to recognize the figure as a whole, but I mostly see at least the body and maybe an arm with muscles...
(Images Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)
