Deep sky · Open cluster in Cancer · M 44 · NGC 2632
M 44
Praesepe
The Beehive, or Praesepe — “the manger”. A misty patch to the eye that Galileo’s first telescope resolved into 40 stars.
- Type
- Open cluster
- Designations
- M 44 · NGC 2632
- Constellation
- Cancer
- Apparent magnitude
- 3.1
- Apparent size
- 70′
- Position (J2000)
- RA 8h 40m · Dec +19° 40′
History
The Greek poet Aratus said that when the Manger vanished on a clear night, rain was coming — a genuinely useful sign of high haze.
Look for
Binoculars are ideal: the cluster is wider than the full Moon, too big for most telescopes to take in.