NGC 1981

NGC 1981
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)
Right ascension05h 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]
Associations
ConstellationOrion
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]

  1. ^ a b "NED results for object NGC 1981 *". NED. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  2. ^ a b "NGC1981: The often-overlooked open cluster in Orion". Eye on the sky. December 22, 2013. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  3. ^ a b "NGC 1981 -- Open (galactic) Cluster". SIMBAD. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  4. ^ "Object: NGC 1981 (*)". SEDS. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  5. ^ "The open cluster NGC 1981". In the Sky. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  6. ^ "Overlooked Wonders In Orion's Shadow". Sky and Telescope. February 10, 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2017.