The Beehive Cluster also known as M44 and NGC 2632 is an open cluster in the constellation Cancer. One of the nearest open clusters to Earth, it contains a larger population of stars than other nearby bright open clusters holding around 1,000 stars. Under dark skies, the Beehive Cluster looks like a small nebulous object to the naked eye, and has been known since ancient times. Classical astronomer Ptolemy described it as a “nebulous mass in the breast of Cancer”. It was among the first objects that Galileo studied with his telescope.
I processed the images using Pixinsight,
Object Designations: Messier Object 44, NGC2632
Also known as: Beehive Cluster
Constellation: Cancer
Object Type: Star Cluster
Distance: 610 light-years away
Magnitude: 3.7
Discovery: Galileo
Telescope: Apertura CarbonStar 200 Imaging Newtonian
Camera: ZWO ASI2600 MC Pro
Mount: Celestron AVX – With CPWI Software
Guiding: Apertura 32mm Guide Scope with a ZWO ASI120MM Camera and PHD2
SharpCap Imaging Software
