M35

From South Dublin Astronomical Society

M35
Type	Open cluster
NGC	NGC 2168
Constellation	Gemini
Right Ascension	6h 08.9m
Declination	+24° 20’
Magnitude	5.1
Size	2 arc. min
Image:M35 messier image.jpg {{{imgnote}}}

Messier 35 is an open cluster in Gemini and one of the finest in the winter sky. The cluster can be found 2¼º to the northwest of magnitude 3·3 Eta Geminorum. The group contains hundreds of stars within a diameter equivalent to that of the Full Moon.

Binoculars will reveal many pinpoints of light set in a soft background glow while switching to larger instruments brings even more stars into view. The cluster is located 2,800 light years away and has an integrated magnitude of 5·3 making it just visible to the naked eye from a dark site.

Large binoculars let you spot the more intriguing NGC 2158 half a degree south west of M35. It appears as a grainy spot of light seemingly part of a chain of stars that streams away from M35. This rich cluster is 16,000 light years away and the great distance of the swarm means we do not see it well. We do know however that its stars are ancient with some estimating it to be over a billion years old.