NGC 8 is an asterism of two completely unrelated stars[1] (spectral types K6I and G4)[citation needed] in the constellation Pegasus, discovered on 29 September 1865 by Otto Wilhelm von Struve.[2] It is approximately 2.7 arc minutes away from NGC 9.[3]
NGC 8 as seen on SDSS | |
Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
---|---|
Constellation | Pegasus |
Right ascension | 00h 08m 45.3s[1] |
Declination | +23° 50′ 20″[1] |
Other designations | |
The two stars are completely unrelated to each other, with the whiter, dimmer star (2MASS J00084563+2350186[4]) being at a distance of 10400+4400
−2400 light years,[citation needed] and the yellower, brighter star (2MASS J00084521+2350184[5]) having a minimum distance of 215,000 light years.[citation needed] While both stars are technically outside the Milky Way's galactic disc, the nearer is 6400±2100 light-years south of the 1,000-light-year-thick disc, and the further is not only at least 130,000 light-years south of the disk, but is located entirely outside the Milky Way itself, being at least 220,000 light-years from the galactic core.[citation needed]