IC 348

IC 348
Hubble image of IC 348 and its surroundings.[1]
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Right ascension03h 44m 34s[2]
Declination+32° 09.8′[2]
Distance1,028 ly (315 pc)[3]
Apparent magnitude (V)7.3[2]
Physical characteristics
Estimated age2 million years
Other designationsC 0341+321, Collinder 41
Associations
ConstellationPerseus
See also: Open cluster, List of open clusters
IC 348 south of Omicron Persei

IC 348 is a star-forming region in the constellation Perseus located about 1,000 light years from the Sun. It consists of nebulosity and an associated 2-million-year-old cluster of roughly 400 stars within an angular diameter of 20″. The most massive stars in the cluster are the binary star system BD+31°643, which has a combined spectral class of B5.[3] Based upon infrared observations using the Spitzer Space Telescope, about half of the stars in the cluster have a circumstellar disk, of which 60% are thick or primordial disks.[4]

  1. ^ "Hubble captures strobe flashes from a young star". ESA/Hubble Press Release. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  2. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference SIMBAD was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference apj593_2_1093 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference aj131_3_1574 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).