Messier 35 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Messier 35 |
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Messier 35 (left-center) with NGC 2158 at lower right
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| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Constellation | Gemini |
| Right ascension | 06h 08m 54.0s |
| Declination | +24° 20′ 00″ |
| Distance | 2,970 ly (912 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 5.3 |
| Apparent dimensions (V) | 28 arcmins |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mass | 1,600 M☉ |
| Radius | 11 ly |
| Estimated age | 100 Myr |
| Other designations | M35, NGC 2168, Cr 82, C 0605+243 |
Messier 35, also known as M35 or NGC 2168, is a beautiful group of stars called an open cluster. You can find it in the western part of the Gemini constellation. This cluster looks about as big as the full moon in our sky!
Contents
Exploring Messier 35: A Star Cluster
Messier 35 is also known by other names like M35, NGC 2168, or even the "Shoe-Buckle Cluster." It's a relatively close open cluster of stars. You can spot it in the western part of the Gemini constellation. This is the same part of the sky where the Sun appears during early summer.
Discovery and Location
Two astronomers discovered M35 a long time ago. Philippe Loys de Chéseaux first saw it around 1745. Then, John Bevis also found it independently before 1750. M35 is located in the Orion–Cygnus Arm of our Milky Way galaxy.
Size and Distance from Earth
This star cluster is quite far away from us. It's about 912 parsecs, which is roughly 2,970 light-years from Earth. When you look at it through a telescope, it appears to cover an area in the sky almost as large as the Full Moon. Right next to M35, you can also see another smaller, more compact star cluster called NGC 2158.
The Stars of M35
Scientists have studied M35 to learn more about its stars. They use special methods to measure how stars move. This helps them figure out the total mass of the cluster. The central part of M35 has a mass of about 1,600 to 3,200 times the mass of our Sun. More recent studies in 2015 estimated the mass in its central region to be around 1,600 solar masses.
Astronomers believe there are at least 305 stars that are definitely part of M35. If we include stars that have a good chance of belonging, the number could be as high as 4,349! Scientists figure this out by looking at how stars move (their parallax and proper motion) and what elements they are made of.
The cluster's "metallicity" tells us how many elements heavier than hydrogen and helium it contains. M35 has a metallicity of about -0.21. This means it has a bit less of these heavier elements compared to our Sun. For example, a metallicity of -1 would mean it has ten times fewer heavy elements than the Sun.
Unique Stars in the Cluster
Among the stars that are likely members of M35, scientists found some interesting ones. In 2015, researchers identified 64 stars that are actually binary star systems. This means they are two stars orbiting each other. Their speeds towards or away from us (called radial velocity) change as they orbit.
There are also four stars in M35 that are "chemically peculiar." This means they have an unusual mix of chemical elements compared to most stars. Another star in the cluster's area, called HD 41995, shows "emission lines." These are bright lines in its light spectrum, which can tell us about gases around the star.
In 2005, scientists also found 13 variable stars in the area of M35. Variable stars are stars whose brightness changes over time. At least three of these are thought to be actual members of the cluster. A star is considered a "member" if it's connected to the cluster by gravity or if it was born from the same event as the other cluster stars.
See also
- List of Messier objects
