Cygnus OB2
Encyclopedia
Cygnus OB2 is one of the largest young clusters of stars in our Galaxy, and home to some of the most massive stars known, including Cyg OB2 #8
and Cyg OB2 #12
, one of the most luminous stars known. The region is embedded within a wider region of star formation known as Cygnus X, which is one of the most luminous objects in the sky at radio wavelengths. The region is approximately 4,700 light years from Earth in the constellation of Cygnus.
The young cluster is one of the largest known, and the largest in the northern hemisphere. Although it is over ten times more massive than the famous Orion Nebula
, Cygnus OB2 is much less well known due to its location behind a massive dust cloud known as the Cygnus Rift
, which obscures many of the stars in it. Despite this, recent surveys ranging from radio to X-ray wavelengths have observed the region to incredible depths in an attempt to gain a better understanding of how the processes of star and planet formation occur on such large scales, compared to the small scales of nearby regions. These studies include observations with some of the world's premier astronomical observatories including the Chandra X-ray Observatory
, Spitzer Space Telescope
, and the Herschel Space Observatory
.
Cyg OB2 -8A
Cyg OB2-8A or TYC 3161-01325-1 is a eclipsing binary in Cyg OB2 Association.HIC 101425 includes the components CCDM J20332+4119A, CCDM J20332+4119B, CCDM J20332+4119D and CCDM J20332+4119E.-References:...
and Cyg OB2 #12
Cygnus OB2-12
Cygnus OB2-12 is an extremely bright blue hypergiant with an absolute bolometric magnitude of -12.2, which approaches the upper limit believed possible for normal single stars....
, one of the most luminous stars known. The region is embedded within a wider region of star formation known as Cygnus X, which is one of the most luminous objects in the sky at radio wavelengths. The region is approximately 4,700 light years from Earth in the constellation of Cygnus.
The young cluster is one of the largest known, and the largest in the northern hemisphere. Although it is over ten times more massive than the famous Orion Nebula
Orion Nebula
The Orion Nebula is a diffuse nebula situated south of Orion's Belt. It is one of the brightest nebulae, and is visible to the naked eye in the night sky. M42 is located at a distance of and is the closest region of massive star formation to Earth. The M42 nebula is estimated to be 24 light...
, Cygnus OB2 is much less well known due to its location behind a massive dust cloud known as the Cygnus Rift
Great Rift (astronomy)
In astronomy, the Great Rift is a series of overlapping, non-luminous, molecular dust clouds that are located between the Solar System and the Sagittarius Arm of the Milky Way Galaxy at a distance of about 100 parsecs or about 300 light years from Earth...
, which obscures many of the stars in it. Despite this, recent surveys ranging from radio to X-ray wavelengths have observed the region to incredible depths in an attempt to gain a better understanding of how the processes of star and planet formation occur on such large scales, compared to the small scales of nearby regions. These studies include observations with some of the world's premier astronomical observatories including the Chandra X-ray Observatory
Chandra X-ray Observatory
The Chandra X-ray Observatory is a satellite launched on STS-93 by NASA on July 23, 1999. It was named in honor of Indian-American physicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar who is known for determining the maximum mass for white dwarfs. "Chandra" also means "moon" or "luminous" in Sanskrit.Chandra...
, Spitzer Space Telescope
Spitzer Space Telescope
The Spitzer Space Telescope , formerly the Space Infrared Telescope Facility is an infrared space observatory launched in 2003...
, and the Herschel Space Observatory
Herschel Space Observatory
The Herschel Space Observatory is a European Space Agency space observatory sensitive to the far infrared and submillimetre wavebands. It is the largest space telescope ever launched, carrying a single mirror of in diameter....
.