NGC 2281, also known as the Broken Heart Cluster, is a moderately bright open cluster discovered by William Herschel in 1788. The cluster is relatively compact but contains a wide range of stellar brightness, making it visually interesting for both amateur observers and astrophotographers. Its stars are loosely scattered, producing a pleasing, irregular pattern in wide-field images. NGC 2281 is an intermediate-age cluster, offering a rich field for imaging and study, especially during the winter months in the northern hemisphere.
Names and Catalog numbers
- Broken Heart Cluster
- NGC 2281
- Melotte 51 (Mel 51)
Position and the cosmic neighborhood
NGC 2281 is situated in the northern part of the constellation Auriga, not far from the bright star Capella and within a region rich in open clusters. The cluster is easily located using binoculars or small telescopes, appearing as a loose group of stars against the dense Milky Way background. Its proximity to several other notable clusters, such as M36, M37, and M38, makes this area of Auriga a favorite for wide-field astrophotography. The surrounding star fields and nearby clusters provide excellent opportunities for capturing multiple deep-sky objects in a single frame.
Nice to Know
- NGC 2281 is also called the Broken Heart Cluster due to its distinctive, somewhat heart-shaped appearance in photographs.
- The cluster is estimated to be between 430 and 630 million years old, making it an intermediate-age open cluster.
- It is visible to the naked eye under dark skies, with an apparent magnitude of 5.4, and is easily resolved into individual stars with binoculars.
- The cluster’s Trumpler classification is I3p, indicating a compact but sparse grouping with a wide range of stellar brightness.
Brightnes, distance and size
NGC 2281 shines at an apparent magnitude of 5.4, making it just visible to the naked eye in dark conditions and easily seen with binoculars or small telescopes. The cluster is approximately 1,720 light-years away and spans about 25 arcminutes across the sky, which corresponds to a physical diameter of roughly 20 light-years. Its relatively large angular size and scattered stars make it an attractive target for wide-field astrophotography, especially when framed with the rich stellar background of Auriga.
