Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Perseus (Per)  ·  Contains:  M 34  ·  NGC 1039
Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
M34, Kirby Collins
Powered byPixInsight

M34

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
M34, Kirby Collins
Powered byPixInsight

M34

Equipment

Loading...

Acquisition details

Loading...

Description

M34 is an open cluster in the constellation Perseus.  It was originally discovered by Giovanni Battista, and rediscovered by Messier in 1764.  Herschel described it as "A cluster of stars; with 120, I think it is accompanied with mottled light, like stars at a distance."

At about 1500 light years away, M34 is one of the closest Messier objects to Earth.  Visually it occupies an area roughly the size of the full moon.

Comments

Sky plot

Sky plot

Histogram

M34, Kirby Collins