Object Information:

 

Messier 44, also known as the Beehive Cluster is an open cluster of stars that is approximately 580 light years distant.

 

Messier 44 is visible to the unaided eye in the constellation of Cancer and has been known since ancient times.  It is sometimes also known as the Praesepe, which is Latin for "manger".   More than 200 of the 350 stars in this area have been confirmed as cluster members.  The cluster is best observed using low powered binoculars.

 

Follow this link for more information on the Beehive Cluster:

 

http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m044.html

  Imaged at: 

 

Vallecito County Park, Anza-Borrego Desert, San Diego County, California;
Elevation - 1400 feet

  Equipment:  

 

Optics - Takahashi E-160 Newtonian astrograph f/3.3
Mount - Astro-Pyhsics 1200 GTO,
Camera - SBIG ST-2000XM,

  Exposure Information:

 

December 24, 2006
An RGB image consisting of 5 six minute exposures for each color channel. [Total exposure time = 1.5 hours]

  Image Processing Software:

 

Image acquisition and camera control - CCD Soft Version 5

 

Image Calibration - MIRA AP 6 and MIRA AP 7

 

Final Processing - Adobe Photoshop CS