Messier 29 is an open star cluster located in the constellation Cygnus, about 4,000 light-years away from Earth. This cluster is composed of young, hot stars and is part of the rich tapestry of the Milky Way’s spiral arms. Its age is estimated to be around 10 million years, making it relatively young in astronomical terms.
Location and neighborhood.
The celestial coordinates for Messier 29 are approximately right ascension 20h 23m and declination +38° 31′ (J2000 epoch). Observers in the northern hemisphere can find Cygnus during the summer months, and Messier 29’s position within this constellation makes it visible in that specific region of the night sky.
Unique facts
- Messier 29 is characterized by a relatively young stellar population, with an estimated age of around 10 million years. This makes it a noteworthy cluster for studying the early stages of stellar evolution.
Brightness and size
Messier 29 has an apparent visual magnitude of around 7.1. This makes it visible to the naked eye under dark skies and easily observable with binoculars or small telescopes.
The physical size of Messier 29 is approximately 11 light-years. This measurement represents the extent of the cluster in three-dimensional space, considering the distribution of its member stars.
The angular size of Messier 29 in the night sky is about 7 arcminutes. This is the apparent size of the cluster as observed from Earth and is an angular measurement on the celestial sphere.
