Double star cluster. Optical image of the double star cluster (centre) in the constellation Perseus. North is at top. The left cluster is Chi Persei (

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Double star cluster. Optical image of the double star cluster (centre) in the constellation Perseus. North is at top. The left cluster is Chi Persei (NGC 884) and the right one is h Persei (NGC 869). These clusters are around 7000 light years from Earth. They are thought to have formed from the same cloud of gas around 15 million years ago, before drifting apart. They now lie around 50 light years from each other.

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Size: 3150px × 3130px
Photo credit: © ECKHARD SLAWIK/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 869, 884, astronomy, chi, cluster, clusters, constellation, cosmology, couple, double, milky, ngc, night, open, optical, pair, persei, perseus, science, sky, space, star, stars, stellar, twin