M34

From South Dublin Astronomical Society

M34
Type	Open cluster
NGC	NGC 1039
Constellation	Perseus
Right Ascension	2h 42m
Declination	+42° 47’
Magnitude	5.2
Size	35 arc min.
Image:M34 messier image.jpg

M34 is a lovely galactic cluster found almost halfway along a line joining the variable star Algol and Gamma Andromedae. To be exact, it’s a couple of degrees to the north of this line and there should be little difficulty in finding it. Larger binoculars show a central glow boxed in by a rectangular arrangement of a few bright stars with this then surrounded by a heart-shaped (or pear-shaped) group of more brilliant suns. It’s a delightful object that repays careful study. The cluster lies 1,400 light years away and is about 180 million years old. Interestingly, M34 shares the same spatial motion with the Pleiades, the Alpha Persei group, Stephenson 1, and some other clusters. This has led some astronomers to class these groups as part of a “local association”.