NGC 1872
Encyclopedia
NGC 1872 is an open cluster
with associated nebulosity in the constellation
Dorado. It was discovered by James Dunlop
in 1826.
With the release of a recent Hubble image there is currently debate about whether NGC 1872 is an open or globular cluster. NGC 1872 has characteristics of both — it is visually as rich as a typical globular but is much younger, and, like many open clusters, has bluer stars. Such intermediate clusters are common in the Large Magellanic Cloud.
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...
with associated nebulosity in the constellation
Constellation
In modern astronomy, a constellation is an internationally defined area of the celestial sphere. These areas are grouped around asterisms, patterns formed by prominent stars within apparent proximity to one another on Earth's night sky....
Dorado. It was discovered by James Dunlop
James Dunlop
James Dunlop was an astronomer's assistant who was hired by Sir Thomas Brisbane to work at his private observatory, once located at Paramatta , New South Wales, about twenty-three kilometres west of Sydney, Australia during the 1820s and 1830s...
in 1826.
With the release of a recent Hubble image there is currently debate about whether NGC 1872 is an open or globular cluster. NGC 1872 has characteristics of both — it is visually as rich as a typical globular but is much younger, and, like many open clusters, has bluer stars. Such intermediate clusters are common in the Large Magellanic Cloud.