NGC 6871 is an open cluster visible in the
constellation of Cygnus . It is one of many in a brilliant
stretch of clusters in the Milky Way, south of the star γ Cygni.
A small telescope will reveal that nearly half of its stars are
double. The brightest component is a sixth magnitude star. This
cluster, and those located near the nebulae in this area belong
to the same spiral arm in which our solar system lies.
