NGC 1857

Open Cluster NGC 1857 (= H VII.33 = h 350 = GC 1067 = Melotte 32 = Collinder 61), type 'd', in Auriga

Right Ascension 05 : 20.2 (h:m)
Declination +39 : 21 (deg:m)
Distance 9.7 (kly)
Visual Brightness 7.0 (mag)
Apparent Dimension 6 (arc min)

Discovered by William Herschel in 1780.

William Herschel found this cluster on September 30, 1780, with his 6.2-inch (7-ft FL) reflector, one of the early objects found before he started his systematical survey for nebulae and clusters, but didn't catalog it at that time. He found it again during his survey with his 18.7-inch (20-ft. FL) scope on October 18, 1786, and cataloged it as H VII.33.

Modern distance determinations give a value of about 9,700 light-years, a span between 7,900 and 11,400 ly. Its age was estimated at 133 million years. It was classified as of Shapley type 'd' - a loose cluster, and Trumpler type "II,2,m" - detached with weak concetration to the center, moderate range of brightness, and moderately rich (50 to 100 stars).

.. more to come ..

  • Open Cluster NGC 1857 (Till Credner and Sven Kohle)

  • Jean-Claude Mermilliod's WEBDA cluster page for NGC 1857
  • SIMBAD Data of NGC 1857
  • Publications on NGC 1857 (NASA ADS)
  • Observing Reports for NGC 1857 (IAAC Netastrocatalog)
  • NGC Online data for NGC 1857

    Hartmut Frommert
    [contact]

    [SEDS] [Home] [Non-Messier Indexes]

    Last Modification: July 14, 2026