Description | Images |
Object name: NGC6856Designation(s): NGC6856, NGC 6856 is a star group located in Northern Cygnus. It was discovered by John Herschel on September 24, 1829. I can't tell you how distant it is. There is no agreement over whether this is a star cluster or an asterism. While it is listed in the NGC, the Revised NGC lists it as non-existent. SIMBAD doesn't list it under an NGC number. WEBDA has no listing for it at all. In my image, the range of star colors seems about the same as the rest of the field. I found no Hipparcos data for any of its stars. Thus I'm coming down on the side of it being an asterism. It might not be as cute as the "Coathanger" but certainly is obvious. |