NGC 225 has been estimated to be around 10 million years old, thus making this widely dispersed cluster one of the youngest open clusters in the Milky Way, with approximately 20 bright member stars lying approximately 2140 light-years away in the constellation of Cassiopeia. Nearby is the blue reflection nebula VdB 4. This may be the remains of the nebula that formed the star cluster which is further indication of its very young age.
NGC 225 and VdB 4
Telescope: 16″ f3.75 Dream Scope
Camera: FLI ML16803
Mount: ASA DDM85
Exposure: 7.5 hours (42x300s L + 3x16x300s RGB)
Date: August 2020
Location: Southern Alps, France
Who else is out there? If they might be looking back at us and seeing the Milky Way galaxy as one of thousands and asking themselves, “ Who else is out there?”
Carl Sagan is right, there is no “if”, they are out there. It’s a pity we can’t connect across the ocean of space like we were able to connect across the oceans of water on this planet Earth. When you reflect on what humans have done to each other as a result over the centuries, maybe it is just as well “ they “ and “us” leave each other alone. But….., however, think of the possibilities, “if” it were possible.