NGC 299 | |
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![]() Hubble Space Telescope image of the cluster NGC 299 | |
Observation data (J2000epoch) | |
Right ascension | 00h 53m 24.74s[1] |
Declination | −72° 11′ 47.6″[1] |
Distance | 200 kly[2] |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 11.73±0.12[1] |
Apparent dimensions (V) | 0.9' x 0.9'[3] |
Physical characteristics | |
Mass | 600±200[4] M☉ |
Estimated age | 26+15 −9 Myr[4] |
Other designations | ESO 051-SC 005.[5] |
Associations | |
Constellation | Tucana |
See also:Open cluster,List of open clusters |
NGC 299 is anopen cluster of stars in the main body of theSmall Magellanic Cloud[6] – a nearbydwarf galaxy. It is located in the southernconstellation ofTucana, just under 200,000 light years distant from theSun.[2] The cluster was discovered on August 12, 1834, by English astronomerJohn Herschel.[7]
The cluster is around 25 million years old with 600 times themass of the Sun. It spans a radius of 24 ly (7.3 pc). Themetallicity of the cluster, what astronomers term the abundance of elements more massive than helium, is almost identical to that of the Sun.[4] The cluster is old enough that the stellar winds from the most massive members has dispersed all of the original dust and gas. Hence, star formation has come to a halt.[6] Twoeclipsing binaries and one probableBe star have been identified, but the cluster is lacking any low-amplitudepulsating variables.[8]
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