Messier 44 (Beehive Cluster)

 Open Cluster

 In constellation Cancer

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M44 is one largest open clusters

consisting of around 300 stars and

is located around 577 light years away.

M44 is 16 light years across and is estimated

to be 730 million years old.

Its formation resembles a swarm of bees.

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RA 08^h 40^m 04.00^s

DEC +19° 41′ 00.0″

M44 has a magnitude (brightness) of 3.7

and its size is 95'.0

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Imaging Scope : Takahashi Epsilon 160

Focal Length = 530mm

Imaging Camera : Canon EOS 350 DSLR

EQ6 Pro GEM Mount : Manually Guided

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56 x 40 second exposures [37 mins 30 secs]

at ISO 1600. Imaged in dark skies

Baldrine, Isle of Man, British Isles.

20:00 on 07/03/2008.