Open Cluster NGC 7142's stars are estimated to be over 3 billion years old, far older than those in reflection nebula NGC 7129, which appears about ½ degree away on the sky in the constellation of Cepheus. The cluster's stars are tinted by the red streak of hydrogen emissions that lay between the cluster and us. Several background galaxies are visible, including PGC 97216, PGC 168098, and PGC 168082, shown marked below.

240 minutes L on 2015-11-16 and 168 minutes RGB on 2015-11-08 plus 256 minutes H-a using an Astrodon 3 nm H-a filter on 2012-11-21 (blended with L), all using a QSI 583 from northern New Jersey through an Astro-Physics 155mm refractor at f7.1. North is to the left. ©2016

Open Cluster NGC 7142 with selected background galaxies marked.