Open Cluster Messier 103 (M103) in Cassiopeia
Taken by Tom Wildoner on September 19, 2025 @
Weatherly, PA, USA
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Camera Used: Unavailable Unavailable
Exposure Time: Unavailable
Aperture: Unavailable
ISO: Unavailable
Date Taken: 2025:10:16 13:50:20
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Details:
Messier 103 (M103) is a small but rich open star cluster located in the constellation Cassiopeia, about 8,000 to 10,000 light-years from Earth. M103 contains around 40 to 170 stars, depending on observational limits. It spans roughly 15 light-years in diameter and is estimated to be around 25 million years old—a relatively young age in cosmic terms. The cluster's brightest stars shine at magnitude 10 or fainter, and among them are several blue and white giants, typical of young stellar populations. M103 is easily observed with small telescopes and is often appreciated for its compact, triangular shape and the colorful contrast of its constituent stars.
Tech Specs: Orion 8” RC Telescope, ZWO ASI071MC camera running at 0F, 88 x 60 second exposures, Celestron CGX-L pier mounted, ZWO EAF and ASIAir Pro, processed in DSS and PixInsight. Image Date: September 19, 2025. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).
Photographer's website:
https://www.thedarksideobservatory.com
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