NGC6791 – a fascinating star cluster and cosmic benchmark
About the Object
NGC 6791 is a very interesting open star cluster. Located about 13,000 light-years away in the constellation Lyra, it is both exceptionally old—with an estimated age of around 8 billion years—and metal-rich, a combination that is extremely rare among Galactic star clusters. I also contains an unusual large number of stars for an open cluster. Furthermore, NGC6791 contains two additional and quite puzzling younger population of about 4 and 6 Gyrs in age, respectively. Despite its great age, NGC 6791 has survived the tidal forces that gradually disperse most open clusters, making it an important laboratory for studying stellar evolution, white dwarfs, and the chemical enrichment history of our Galaxy.
Observation Notes
Data were taken on 2026 July 8 - 10
Technical Details
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