Observer's guide
About NGC 559
NGC 559 (C8) is catalogued as an open cluster in Cassiopeia. Its J2000 position is RA 01:29:33, Dec +63:18:05, corresponding to 22.3871 degrees RA and 63.3011 degrees Dec. The local catalogue places it about 3,700 light-years away. Its referenced angular extent is approximately 9.7 by 9.7 arcminutes.
Observing tips
StarWatchr rates this as a moderate target at magnitude 9.5. It is associated with autumn observing, with midnight placement typically strongest around October. From 52 degrees north its theoretical meridian altitude is about 78.7 degrees; local horizons and the live altitude chart determine the practical window.
Because it is faint, use a larger aperture where possible, avoid bright Moon conditions, and use averted vision.
What to expect
The SIMBAD classification for the matched source is OpC. A published radial velocity value is -77.7 km/s. The SIMBAD record currently connects it to 82 bibliographic references.
At roughly 9.7 arcminutes across, it benefits from a narrower field and adequate image scale. Use the listed 9.7 by 9.7 arcminute extent to check framing, and treat catalogue magnitude as integrated brightness rather than a direct measure of visual contrast.
