| NGC 559 | |
| Epoch: | J2000 |
| Constellation: | Cassiopeia |
| Dist Ly: | 7200 ly |
| Dist Pc: | 2200 pc |
| Appmag V: | +9.5 |
| Size V: | 7.0 |
| Names: | Caldwell 8, Cr 13 |
NGC 559 (also known as Caldwell 8) is an open cluster and Caldwell object in the constellation Cassiopeia. It shines at magnitude +9.5. Its celestial coordinates are RA, dec . It is located near the open cluster NGC 637, and the bright magnitude +2.2 irregular variable star Gamma Cassiopeiae. The cluster is 7 arcmins across.[1]
The object is also called Ghost's Goblet. This name was coined by astronomer Stephen J. O'Meara, as the center of the star cluster, with a little imagination, is reminiscent of a still photograph of a jeweled goblet that is about to vanish in a ghostly manner. O'Meara attributes the impression of fading to the low brightness (about +12) of many stars in the center as well as to the great age of the star cluster, which is about 1.8 billion years old.[2]