M 103 (NGC 581) -- Open Cluster in Cassiopeia
Christmas Tree Cluster
The Open Cluster M103 (NGC 581) is the most well known, by amateur astronomers,
of the lopsided circle of the five clusters I visited on December 16, 2017. O'Meara
describes it as Christmas Tree shaped and for once I can see what he is talking
about; even when I view it using a diagonal. There were two bright red-giant stars in
the field of view. One in the cluster proper and one outside of the cluster in the
upper-right of the drawing. This is a stunning cluster and well placed for evening
viewing around Christmas time. A celestial Christmas Tree full of sparkling lights.
of the lopsided circle of the five clusters I visited on December 16, 2017. O'Meara
describes it as Christmas Tree shaped and for once I can see what he is talking
about; even when I view it using a diagonal. There were two bright red-giant stars in
the field of view. One in the cluster proper and one outside of the cluster in the
upper-right of the drawing. This is a stunning cluster and well placed for evening
viewing around Christmas time. A celestial Christmas Tree full of sparkling lights.