images

Open star clusters M35 and NGC 2158 in Gemini

by

J.Lodriguss/Novapix

Reference

a-aou21-68005

Date

2006-05-07

M35 (NGC 2168), at left here, is a spectacular large open cluster containing about 200 stars located in Gemini. Shining at magnitude 5, it is visible to the unaided eye off the foot of Gemini. It is accompanied by a jewel-like smaller companion, open cluster NGC 2158, seen at the lower right of the photo. The smaller cluster is easily resolved in the Astro-Physic's 130 EDT refractor, but many people mistake it for a comet when they observe M35 if they have not seen it before and are not familiar with it.