M44

This is the famous "Beehive" cluster in Cancer, an open cluster 577 light years distant, containing about 200 stars, approximately 730 million years old. Also called Praesepe, the cluster spans more than a degree and a half and can easily be seen by the naked eye in a dark sky. Although the cluster does contain at least 5 red giant stars, the color shown here in the bottom photo is likely not very accurate and probably a result of computer processing. The top image is more likely to be of better color representation. Recent observations have revealed that M44 and The Hyades cluster in Taurus have similar ages, similar proper motions, and similar stellar populations, leading to speculation that they may have had a common origin

Image taken Feb 7, 2013, with the D-90 and the 300mm F:4.5 Nikkor lens. Exposure was 30 seconds at ISO 3200.

This is M44, The Beehive Cluster in Cancer. Image was taken on May 14, 2007, at about 10:00 p.m., with the 402 camera on the Nikkor 135mm lens, at F:2.8. Exposure was 30 seconds with each of the three color filters. Compare with other images of M44 taken with my C-5: others