Thursday, March 27, 2025

The Beehive Cluster (overnight)

Cancer contains a very large open star cluster known as the Beehive, Praesepe "Latin for manger", and Messier 44, and NGC 2362. The sparse cluster, which covers an area more than double the diameter of the moon due to its proximity to our sun, is visible to the unaided eyes under dark skies, and through binoculars and telescopes, even under light-polluted skies. Search for the Beehive 0.7 degrees west of the midpoint between the medium-bright stars Asellus Australis and Asellus Borealis (or Gamma and Delta Cancri). The
cluster is dominated by about two dozen blue-white stars, many in pairs and concentrated toward the center, plus a number of warmer-colored F, G, and K- class stars. The numerous fainter, less massive stars tend to surround the core. Messier 44's located near the ecliptic leads to frequent invasions by
the moon and planets.

(Data courtesy of Starry Night)
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* Origin: CJ's Place, Orange City FL > cjsplace.thruhere.net (21:2/156)