| NGC 602 | |
|---|---|
A Hubble Space Telescope (HST) image of NGC 602. Credit: HST/NASA/ESA. |
|
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Constellation | Tucana |
| Right ascension | 01h 29.5m[1] |
| Declination | -73° 34′[1] |
| Distance | 196 kly[2] (61 kpc[2]) |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | - /> |
| Apparent dimensions (V) | 1′.5 × 0′.7[3] |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mass | - M☉ |
| Radius | 90 ly |
| Estimated age | 5 My[4] |
| Notable features | - |
| Other designations | N90[2] |
| See also: Open cluster, List of open clusters | |
NGC 602 is a young, bright open cluster of stars located in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), a satellite galaxy to the Milky Way. Radiation and shock waves from the stars have pushed away much of the lighter surrounding gas and dust that compose the nebula known as N90, and this in turn has triggered new star formation in the ridges (or "elephant trunks") of the nebula. These even younger, pre-main sequence stars are still enshrouded in dust but are visible to the Spitzer Space Telescope at infrared wavelengths.[5] The cluster is of particular interest because it is located in the wing of the SMC leading to the Magellanic Bridge. Hence, while its chemical properties should be similar to those of the rest of the galaxy, it is relatively isolated and so easier to study.[6]
A number of other, more distant galaxies also appear in the background of the Hubble images of NGC 602, making for a "tantalizing"[4] and "grand"[7] view.
Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:NGC_602 NGC 602] at Wikimedia Commons