Messier 35 (M 35)

Introduction | Map | Sketch | My Best Own Photos | My Own Observations | My Own Photos | References || Appendix: My Own Photos

On this page I collect my observations of the open star cluster M 35 (NGC 2168) in the constellation Gemini/Twins. The open star cluster NGC 2158 is close to M 35; the open star clusters IC 2156 and IC 2157 are a little farther away.

 

Introduction

I did not know the Gemini/Twins constellation for a long time, but a friend pointed me to Castor and Pollux, a pair of stars, which can be easily found at the nightly sky. The older form of the Gemini constellation reminds me of a jug lying on its side. I can therefore remember this and use it as an aid for finding the open star cluster M 35, which is supposed to be visible even to the naked eye. M 35 is, however, located on opposite (open) side of the jug (on the right) above the last star of the constellation (which somewhat "turns upwards" = the "spout"). Read more on how to find the cluster below.

M 35 is said to be the open star cluster with the most stars in winter. The open star cluster NGC 2158 is at a distance of 0.4° and can be seen together with M 35 in rich-field telescopes. The open star clusters IC 2156 and IC 2157 can be seen in Vespera as a mosaic together with the other two open star clusters.

M 35 (NGC 2168)   NGC 2158      IC 2156      IC 2157
Size: 28' (Stoyan) - about the size of the moon
Distance: 2,600 Light years (Stoyan)
Rating: **** (Stoyan)
     Size: 5' (Wikipedia)
Distance: 16,200 Light years (Wikipedia)
Rating: ---
  Size: 4' (SkySafari)
Distance: 6,800 Light years (SkySafari)
Rating: ---
  Size: 5' (SkySafari)
Distance: 6,700 Light years (SkySafari)
Rating: ---

 

Map

M 35 at the upper right edge of constellation Gemini/Twins (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

May 2017: M 35 above the right upper end of constellation Gemini/Twins. At this time of the year, it was turned to the right for nearly 90 Grad, so that M 35 was located at the bottom right of the constellation. (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

 

Sketch

The sketch by Michael Vlasov (DeepSkyWatch.com) provides a rough impression of what I observed (my impression was much fainter than the sketch):

Sketch of the M35 Nebula by Michael Vlasov (Copyright © Michael Vlasov 2016)

 

My Best Own Photos

Atik Infinity & Explorer 150PDS (February 12 and 21, 2018)

    

M 35 (Gemini), post-processed and sharpened (Feb 12, 2018)

 

Ditto, post-processed and sharpened (Feb 21, 2018)

Atik Infinity & TLAPO1027 (March 24, 2021)

    

M 35 (Gemini) (Mar 24, 2021)

 

M 35 (Gemini) (Mar 24, 2021)

    

Ditto, photo on top post-processed (Mar 24, 2021)

 

Ditto, photo on top post-processed (Mar 24, 2021)

Atik Infinity & PS 72/432 (February 23, 2022)

M 35 and NGC 2158 - Feb 23, 2022, unprocessed

Sony RX10 M4 (February 12, 2021)

    

M 35 with Sony RX10 M4, ISO 6400

 

M 35 with Sony RX10 M4, ISO 6400, processed

 

M 35 with Sony RX10 M4, ISO 6400, processed, section

 

M 35 with Sony RX10 M4, 13 photos stacked in Affinity Photo (average), processed, section

 

M 35 with Sony RX10 M4, ISO, 13 photos stacked in Affinity Photo (average)

 

M 35 with Sony RX10 M4, 13 photos stacked in Affinity Photo (average), processed

Photo data: M mode with 1 s and f/4, 600 mm, ISO 6400, long-time noise suppression off, manual focus

eVscope

    
M 35 - Nov 17, 2020   M 35 - Nov 17, 2020, photo left processed

Vespera

    

M 35 with NGC 2158, IC 2156, and IC 2157, Feb 8, 2023 - original, 1700s

 

Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net (photo left, unprocessed)

 

M 35 with NGC 2158, IC 2156 and IC 2157, Mar 25, 2024 - original, mosaic, 1750s

 

M 35 with NGC 2158, IC 2156 and IC 2157, Mar 25, 2024 - large, photo left processed

   

Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net (photo above, unprocessed)

   

 

My Own Observations

Observations February 2017

Observations End of March 2017

Observations April/May 2017

Observations December 2017 - April 2018

Observations February 2019 ff

Observations October - December 2019

Observations End of December 2019 to January 2020

Observations February to April 2020

Observations November 2020

Observations January to March 2021

Observations February to April 2022

Observations February 2023

Observations March 2024

 

References

Websites

On this Site


Appendix: My Own Photos

Atik Infinity & Explorer 150PDS (February 12 and 21, 2018)

    

M 35 (Gemini), post-processed and sharpened (Feb 12, 2018)

 

Ditto, post-processed and sharpened (Feb 21, 2018)

Atik Infinity & C5 (February 13, 2021)

    

M 35 (Gemini) (Feb 13, 2021)

 

Ditto, post-processed (Feb 13, 2021)

Atik Infinity & TLAPO1027 (February 13, 2021)

    

M 35 (Gemini) (Mar 24, 2021)

 

M 35 (Gemini) (Mar 24, 2021)

    

Ditto, photo on top post-processed (Mar 24, 2021)

 

Ditto, photo on top post-processed (Mar 24, 2021)

Atik Infinity & PS 72/432 (February 23, 2022)

M 35 and NGC 2158 - Feb 23, 2022, unprocessed

Sony RX10 M4 (February 12, 2021)

    

M 35 with Sony RX10 M4, ISO 6400

 

M 35 with Sony RX10 M4, ISO 6400, processed

 

M 35 with Sony RX10 M4, ISO 6400, processed, section

 

M 35 with Sony RX10 M4, 13 photos stacked in Affinity Photo (average), processed, section

 

M 35 with Sony RX10 M4, ISO, 13 photos stacked in Affinity Photo (average)

 

M 35 with Sony RX10 M4, 13 photos stacked in Affinity Photo (average), processed

Photo data: M mode with 1 s and f/4, 600 mm, ISO 6400, long-time noise suppression off, manual focus

eVscope

         

M 35 - Jan 28, 2020

 

M 35 - Feb 15, 2020, processed

 

M 35 - Feb 16, 2020

   

M 35 - Feb 16, 2020

 

M 35 - Mar 13, 2020

 

M 35 - Mar 13, 2020

   

M 35 - Mar 18 2020

 

M 35 - Mar 18, 2020

 

M 35 - Apr 11, 2020

     

M 35 - Nov 17, 2020

 

M 35 - Nov 17, 2020, photo left processed

   

eVscope 2

         

M 35 - Mar 20, 2022

 

M 35 - Mar 20, 2022, photo left processed

 

M 35 - Apr 10, 2022

Vespera

    

M 35 with NGC 2158, IC 2156, and IC 2157, Feb 8, 2023 - original, 1700s

 

Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net (photo left, unprocessed)

 

M 35 with NGC 2158, IC 2156 and IC 2157, Mar 25, 2024 - original, mosaic, 1750s

 

M 35 with NGC 2158, IC 2156 and IC 2157, Mar 25, 2024 - large, photo left processed

   

Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net (photo above, unprocessed)