NGC 7062 was discovered by William Herschel on October 19, 1788 and is considered a moderately rich, small open cluster. Its visual apparent magnitude is 8.3, making it a suitable target for amateur astrophotographers with at least binoculars or a small telescope. A typical Trumpler classification of II2m describes its moderate concentration and mixed stellar population. The cluster resides in a rich star field toward the northern part of the Milky Way, adding contrast and variety to deep-sky images.
Names and Catalog numbers
NGC: NGC 7062
Collinder (Cr): Cr 434
Position and the cosmic neighborhood
NGC 7062 is positioned in the northeastern part of Cygnus, situated roughly 2.5 degrees south-southwest of Messier 39 (M39), and close to other open clusters like NGC 7082 and various star-rich regions along the band of the Milky Way. It lies in an area abundant with other deep-sky objects including nebulae and asterisms, making wide-field astrophotography especially rewarding as the surrounding field is densely populated with stars, providing rich backgrounds and dynamic images. The broader region of Cygnus contains notable targets such as the North America Nebula (NGC 7000), Veil Nebula, and several prominent planetary nebulae and bright stars.
Nice to Know
– NGC 7062 was discovered by William Herschel in 1788, revealing its long-standing place in astronomical history. – Its compact form and high star concentration make it particularly photogenic, even under light-polluted skies or with moderate equipment. – The cluster is classified as Trumpler II2m, indicating a moderate richness and varied star brightness within a well-defined core. – NGC 7062 is accessible with common astrophotography setups: small telescopes or binoculars can provide pleasing images, especially with longer exposures or under dark skies.
Brightnes, distance and size
NGC 7062 shines with a visual magnitude of 8.3 and lies about 4,800 light-years from Earth, setting it beyond the reach of naked-eye visibility but suitable for imaging with modest equipment. Its true diameter is just a few light-years, with the cluster spanning approximately 5–7 arcminutes, making it a compact yet distinct target in astrophotography with moderate field of view. The cluster’s relatively small apparent size means it stands out well against the star-rich Milky Way background, rendering images with both detail and context—ideal for both wide-field and close-up imaging.
