Deep space
Pyramid Cluster
Open cluster · M39 · NGC 7092
Open cluster in Cygnus
Photo: Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Messier 39 or M39, also known as NGC 7092, is an open cluster of stars in the constellation of Cygnus, sometimes referred to as the Pyramid Cluster. It is positioned two degrees south of the star Pi Cygni and around 9° east-northeast of Deneb. The cluster was discovered by Guillaume Le Gentil in 1749, then Charles Messier added it to his catalogue in 1764. When observed in a small telescope at low power the cluster shows around two dozen members but is best observed with binoculars. It has a total integrated magnitude (brightness) of 4.6 and spans an angular diameter of 29 arcminutes – about the size of the full Moon. It is centered about 1,010 light-years away.
Description from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
In your sky
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Key facts
Distance
~824 light-years
Apparent mag.
+4.6
Apparent size
29′
Best seen with
Naked eye (dark sky)
Catalogue
M39 · NGC 7092
Did you know
- Listed as Messier 39 in the Messier catalogue, also known as NGC 7092.
- Found in the constellation Cygnus.
- Visible to the naked eye from a dark, moonless site.
