When to photograph NGC 663
NGC 663 is an open cluster in Cassiopeia, 6′ across at magnitude 7.1. Also listed as C 10.
When to photograph it
From 45° N the best months are October to December, with up to 11.0 hours of astronomical darkness above 30° in November. It reaches 74° at its highest. It never sets from this latitude, so some imaging is possible all year.
From 35° S it never rises.
Framing
Its long axis is 6′. It fills 35 to 80% of the short side of an APS-C sensor at about 3130 to 7150 mm, and of a full-frame sensor at about 4810 to 11000 mm.
Filters and the moon
Clusters are broadband targets, but bright ones tolerate some moonlight and light pollution. Short subs keep the brightest stars from clipping. The dark sky calendar shows which nights this month are moon-free where you are.
Plan it for tonight
Dates and times depend on your exact location. The imaging planner shows NGC 663's altitude through tonight, its transit time and its distance from the moon. For sub length, use the exposure calculator.
Nearby targets
- M 103 1.7° away
- NGC 559 2.8° away
- NGC 457 Owl Cluster 4.5° away
- NGC 896 4.7° away
- IC 1795 Fish Head Nebula 4.8° away
- IC 1805 Heart Nebula 5.6° away
Gear that suits NGC 663
NGC 663 is only 6.0′ across, so it stays small in any amateur telescope. The longest focal length gives it the most pixels.
- Celestron C8 OTA 2032 mm f/10: fills 23% of an APS-C frame's short side View at High Point Scientific
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