Broken Heart Cluster
- Pierre Moutounet-Cartan
- Mar 30
- 1 min read
About this object
NGC 2281 (the "Broken Heart Cluster") is a striking 650-million-year-old open cluster located approximately 1,800 light-years away in the constellation Auriga. Spanning about 15 light-years across, this compact yet bright (magnitude +5.4) cluster contains around 30-40 stars, with its distinctive "V" or heart-shaped asterism – disrupted by a dark dust lane – giving rise to its poetic nickname. Dominated by hot B-type stars and cooler giants, NGC 2281 exhibits a slightly sub-solar metallicity ([Fe/H] ≈ -0.1) and shows signs of dynamical relaxation, making it an intriguing subject for studying the late-stage evolution of intermediate-age clusters. Easily visible through binoculars as a hazy patch and resolving into individual stars with small telescopes, this celestial heart offers both scientific value and aesthetic appeal, particularly during winter months when Auriga rides high in northern skies.
Designations
Standardized Catalogues
PMC Observatory Catalogue
Observations
2025-03-28 at around 11:00 pm (+00:00)
Photographs
