M44 - Beehive Cluster


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The Beehive cluster (a.k.a Praesepe) is visible to the naked eye but actually difficult to photograph so that it looks as good as it does to the eye with binoculars. This is because it is large (actually visible to the naked eye) and consists of relatively few stars. A long exposure photograph reveals more stars so that the cluster looks a bit more "filled in".

  Technical data:
Date:   12 Jan. 2002
Scope: Borg 100ED F4
Mount: Losmandy G11
Guider: SBIG STV / Borg 76ED @ F6.6
Camera: Planet Town 6x7 vacuum-back astro camera
Film: Kodak E200 (+2 push)
Exposure: 30 minutes



Copyright 2002 by David A. Kodama, All Rights Reserved