M11 - The Wild Duck Cluster5 viewsOne of the richest, most compact and most massive open clusters known; estimates range from 3,700 to 11,000 solar masses. Radius 95 light-years. 6,120 light-years away, in the constellation Scutum. Supposedly the cluster resembles a flying flock of ducks, although as far as I can tell it could just as well be geese, crows or magpies.
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M45 - The Pleiades4 viewsOpen star cluster in the constellation Taurus. Nearest Messier object to Earth (444 light-years).
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Messier 7 - Ptolemy's Cluster1 viewsAn open cluster of stars in the constellation Scorpius. Southernmost Messier object. 980 light years distant. Also designated NGC 6475.
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NGC869 and NGC884 - The Double Cluster in Perseus2 viewsOpen clusters - NGC869 is center/bottom, 7460 light-years away; NGC884, top, 7640 light-years away
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M23 - Open Cluster in Sagittarius1 viewsIn front of an extensive gas and dust network. Around 300 million years old and 2050 light-years away.
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