Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Cancer (Cnc)  ·  Contains:  38 Cnc  ·  39 Cnc  ·  40 Cnc  ·  41 Cnc)  ·  41 eps Cnc  ·  42 Cnc  ·  Almalaf (ε Cnc  ·  Beehive  ·  Beehive cluster  ·  HD73142  ·  HD73161  ·  HD73174  ·  HD73175  ·  HD73210  ·  HD73294  ·  HD73330  ·  HD73345  ·  HD73397  ·  HD73429  ·  HD73430  ·  HD73449  ·  HD73450  ·  HD73487  ·  HD73533  ·  HD73574  ·  HD73576  ·  HD73597  ·  HD73598  ·  HD73616  ·  HD73617  ·  And 44 more.
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Messier 44 - Beehive Cluster, Simone Curzi
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Messier 44 - Beehive Cluster

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Messier 44 - Beehive Cluster, Simone Curzi
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Messier 44 - Beehive Cluster

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Description

Messier 44 (M44), also known as the Beehive Cluster or Praesepe (the Manger), is an open star cluster in the constellation Cancer. Praesepe is a bright, large cluster with an apparent magnitude of 3.7. It lies at a distance of 577 light years from Earth. It has the designation NGC 2632 in the New General Catalogue.

M44 is one of the nearest open clusters to Earth and can easily be seen without binoculars. It appears as a blurry patch of light to the naked eye. The cluster is best seen in binoculars and small telescopes. Occupying an area 95 arc minutes across, it fits in the field of view of binoculars and low power telescopes. Larger telescopes reveal more than 200 stars in the cluster.The best time of year to observe the Beehive Cluster is from February to May, when Cancer rises high in the sky for northern observers.

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Messier 44 - Beehive Cluster, Simone Curzi