Melotte 20: The Scoop On Mirfak

radec 0327+4848 psa 02, 13

specifically, i see the cradle (xistera) used in the 1982's tron grid jai-alai game, with mirfak as the shimmering ball (cesta). 

or is it just an ice cream scoop?

mel20, aka the alpha persei association, has a combined mag of 1.2, spans over 3°, and consists of some 50 stars. still, this often-unsung treasure has the misfortune of competing for attention with nearby powerhouses like c14/double cluster, c41/hyades, and m45/pleiades.

generally considered best in binoculars, i equally enjoy scoping-out the many doublestars residing within the asterism. 

my deepsky obsession began in perseus, so i never miss a chance to throw glass at this subtle and beautiful stellar pattern. 

*raw image credit: sdss*