Messier 35
Encyclopedia
Messier 35 is an open cluster
in the constellation Gemini
. It was discovered by Philippe Loys de Chéseaux in 1745 and independently discovered by John Bevis
before 1750. The cluster is scattered over an area of the sky almost the size of the full moon
and is located 850 parsec
s (2,800 light-year
s) from Earth.
The mass of M35 has been computed using a statistical technique
based on proper motion
velocities of its stars. The mass within the central 3.75 parsec
s was found to be between 1600 and 3200 solar masses (95 percent confidence), consistent with the mass of a realistic stellar population within the same radius.
Open cluster
An open cluster is a group of up to a few thousand stars that were formed from the same giant molecular cloud and have roughly the same age. More than 1,100 open clusters have been discovered within the Milky Way Galaxy, and many more are thought to exist...
in the constellation Gemini
Gemini (constellation)
Gemini is one of the constellations of the zodiac. It was one of the 48 constellations described by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations today. Its name is Latin for "twins", and it is associated with the twins Castor and Pollux in Greek mythology...
. It was discovered by Philippe Loys de Chéseaux in 1745 and independently discovered by John Bevis
John Bevis
John Bevis was an English doctor and astronomer. He is best known for discovering the Crab Nebula in 1731....
before 1750. The cluster is scattered over an area of the sky almost the size of the full moon
Full Moon
Full moon is a lunar phase.Full Moon may also refer to:- Literature :* Full Moon , a novel by P. G. Wodehouse* Full Moon o Sagashite or Full Moon, a manga* Full Moon Press, an American small-press publisher...
and is located 850 parsec
Parsec
The parsec is a unit of length used in astronomy. It is about 3.26 light-years, or just under 31 trillion kilometres ....
s (2,800 light-year
Light-year
A light-year, also light year or lightyear is a unit of length, equal to just under 10 trillion kilometres...
s) from Earth.
The mass of M35 has been computed using a statistical technique
Leonard-Merritt mass estimator
The Leonard–Merritt mass estimator is a formula for estimating the mass of a spherical stellar system using the apparent positions and proper motions of its component stars. The distance to the stellar system must also be known....
based on proper motion
Proper motion
The proper motion of a star is its angular change in position over time as seen from the center of mass of the solar system. It is measured in seconds of arc per year, arcsec/yr, where 3600 arcseconds equal one degree. This contrasts with radial velocity, which is the time rate of change in...
velocities of its stars. The mass within the central 3.75 parsec
Parsec
The parsec is a unit of length used in astronomy. It is about 3.26 light-years, or just under 31 trillion kilometres ....
s was found to be between 1600 and 3200 solar masses (95 percent confidence), consistent with the mass of a realistic stellar population within the same radius.