| NGC 146 | |
| Epoch: | J2000 |
| Constellation: | Cassiopeia |
| Ra: | [1] |
| Dist Ly: | ~10000 |
| Dist Pc: | ~3000 |
| Appmag V: | 9.1[2] |
| Age: | <10 Myr |
| Names: | Cr 5, OCl 299, C 0030+630 |
NGC 146 is a small open cluster in the constellation Cassiopeia. It was discovered by John Herschel in 1829 using his father's 18.7 inch reflecting telescope.[3]
NGC 146 is fairly easy to locate in the sky, being half a degree away from the bright star Kappa Cassiopeiae. However, spotting the cluster itself is difficult because of its low apparent magnitude of 9.1. Its relatively high declination of about 63° means it is not visible for below 27° S.Its distance is estimated at 3030 parsecs (9880 light years),[4] but may be around 3500 pc (11000 ly) away.
The cluster is at most 10 million years old, as there are numerous B-type main sequence stars and pre-main-sequence stars but relatively few evolved supergiants. Among its most massive stars are two Herbig Be stars.[5]