Astronomy:NGC 1981

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Short description: Open cluster in the constellation Orion
NGC 1981
M42 HaRGB Composite Feb 2012 P.jpg
NGC 1981 is the sparse scattering of bright stars without nebulosity at the top (north) of this image of the Orion Nebula region
Credit: David St. Louis
Observation data (J2000.0 epoch)
ConstellationOrion
Right ascension 05h 35m 09.6s[1]
Declination−04° 25′ 30″[1]
Distance1,300[2] (400[2])
Apparent magnitude (V)4.2[3]
Apparent dimensions (V)28.00[4]
Physical characteristics
Other designationsOCL 525, Collinder 73[5]
See also: Open cluster, List of open clusters

NGC 1981 (also known as OCL 525) is an open cluster which is located in the constellation Orion. It was discovered by John Herschel on 4 January 1827. Its apparent magnitude is 4.2 [3] and its size is 28.00 arc minutes. It lies to the north of the Orion Nebula, separated from it by the Sh2-279 region containing NGC 1973, 1975, and 1977.

Some say it looks like an alligator or crocodile, with its eastern star as the snout, its western star as its tail and the two groups of three stars in the middle of it as its two set of legs.[6]

References

External links