Messier 44 (M 44) - Praesepe (Beehive)

Introduction | Map | Find/Identify | My Best Own Photos | My Own Observations | References || Appendix: My Own Photos

On this page I collect my observations of the open star cluster M 44 (Praesepe, Beehive; NGC 2632) in the constellation Cancer/Crab.

Introduction

Cancer/Crab belongs to the constellations that I do not really know. And I had not heard of the open star cluster M 44 before, which is called Praesepe, Crib or Beehive and impressive 70' large. It was relatively faint in my binoculars (Trinovid) - almost like a nebula, but small star dots were recognizable.

Since M 44 is located in the east and fairly low in February and was not visible from my terrace (at least , I thought so...). That is why I did not attempt to observe it on the first day of my winter observations in 2017 (Feb 13, 2017). More on this further below.

In the meantime, I have observed M 44 often, have seen it beautifully and, under good sky conditions, was even able to see it with my naked eyes.

With the eVscope telescopes you can only see a section of M 44. With the Vespera, however, you can image the whole star cluster, especially when using mosaic mode. With the Vespera Pro, you do not need the mosaic mode.

Size: 70' (Stoyan)
Distance: 610 light years
Rating: ****

Map

The open star cluster M 44 in constellation Cancer/Crab (the smaller open star cluster M 67 is near-by) (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

Find/Identify

Find: The open star cluster M 44 is located roughly at the middle of the line connecting Regulus (Leo) and Pollux (Gemini) but a little bit below (or to the right of) the line:

Identify: If you find a large open star cluster this way, then it definitely is M 44! (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

My Best Own Photos

eVscope

M 44 - Mar 6, 2021		M 44 - Mar 6, 2021		M 44 - Mar 6, 2021
M 44 - Mar 6, 2021, photo on top processed		M 44 - Mar 6, 2021, photo on top processed		M 44 - Mar 6, 2021, photo on top processed

Vespera

M 44, Mar 3, 2024 - original, 160s, mosaic		M 44, Mar 3, 2024 - large, 160s, mosaic, processed
M 44, Mar 3, 2024 - original, 370s		M 44, Mar 3, 2024 - original, 930s

Vespera Pro

M 44, Feb 4, 2025 - large, 39 min		M 44, Feb 4, 2025 - large, 39 min, processed

My Own Observations

Observations February/March 2017

• February 14, 2017 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: LT binoculars): Found M 44 (Praesepe) from our balcony using binoculars. It is located roughly at the intersection of lines emanating from Castor / Pollux and from Procyon, and was relatively faint in my binoculars - almost like a nebula, but small star dots were recognizable.
• February 15, 2017: (ditto: Heritage 100P on GoTo mount): Used my GoTo mount and the 100P on our terrace and just set the control to M 44 - and lo and behold, I was able to see Praesepe through a gap. For some time it was still possible to repeat this, but later M 44 was hidden and could not be seen anymore. Unfortunately, I only remember that I was able to see single stars and did not have the foggy impression of when using binoculars. Perhaps, the the rising moon already affected this sky region.
• March 2, 2017: (ditto: Heritage P130 on GoTo mount): Caught a nice view of M 44 with my Heritage P130 on the GoTo Mount. Here, I was able to see single stars, not just a fuzzy cloud...
• March 16, 2017: (ditto): Ditto

Observations End of March 2017

• 27.3.2017 (Erkerode: Heritage 100P): saw M 44 even with the naked eye, nice at lower magnifications
• 29.3.2017 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Heritage P130 on GoTo mount): observed M 44, nice again at lower magnifications

Observations May 2017

• May 5, 12, 14, 15, 2017 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Explorer 150PDS on GoTo mount, Heritage 100P, LT ): M 44 always seen well and beautifully, particularly in binoculars

Observations March 2018

• March 20, 2018 (Erkerode: TS binoculars): M 44 seen beautifully
• March 24, 2018 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Explorer 150PDS on GoTo mount, StarSense): M 44 seen beautifully

Observations May 2018

• May 6, 2018 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: TS binoculars): M 44 seen beautifully

Observations February 2019 ff

• February 27, 2019 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: PS 72/432 on AZ Pronto Mount, TS binoculars): Praesepe M 44 large, beautiful fine stars; also seen in TS binoculars.
• April 28, 2019 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: PS 72/432 on GoTo mount): Praesepe M 44 was large and fine with 10 mm (nice star points! should already fit) and other focal lengths (up to 35 mm).
• May 1, 2019 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Explorer 150PDS on GoTo mount): Praesepe M 44 was large and fine.

Observations February to March 2020

• February 24, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): Praesepe M 44 large, too large for the eVscope (70' instead of 30'); a few bright stars
• March 12 and 18, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): Praesepe M 44 photographed

Observations March 2021

• March 6, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): Praesepe M 44 photographed in the new rectangular format without overlay, exposed manually

Observations March/April 2024

• March 3, 2024 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera): Praesepe M 44 photographed as a mosaic, but aborted; then two normal attempts (6 and 15 min); in all cases stars too large...
• April 10, 2024 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: LT/TS Binocular): Praesepe M 44 observed

Observations February 2025

• February 4, 2025 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera Pro): Praesepe M 44 photographed (39 min)

References

• Messier Catalogue - Messier 44: messier.seds.org/m/m044.html
• Messier 44 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_44

On this Site

• Sky-Watcher Explorer 150PDS Information
• Sky-Watcher Heritage P130 Information (5" Dobson)
• Sky-Watcher Heritage 100P Information (4" Dobson)
• Omegon Photography Scope 72/432 ED OTA Information (2.8" Refractor)
• Unistellar eVscope Information
• Vaonis Vespera Information
• Vaonis Vespera Pro - Information
• Sky-Watcher AZ Pronto Mount Information
• Sky-Watcher Star Discovery AZ GoTo Mount Information
• My Binoculars

Appendix: My Own Photos

eVscope

M 44 - Feb 24, 2020		M 44 - Mar 12, 2020
M 44 - Mar 18, 2020		M 44 - Mar 18, 2020, processed
M 44 - Mar 6, 2021		M 44 - Mar 6, 2021		M 44 - Mar 6, 2021
M 44 - Mar 6, 2021, photo on top processed		M 44 - Mar 6, 2021, photo on top processed		M 44 - Mar 6, 2021, photo on top processed

Vespera

M 44, Mar 3, 2024 - original, 160s, mosaic		M 44, Mar 3, 2024 - large, 160s, mosaic, processed
M 44, Mar 3, 2024 - original, 370s		M 44, Mar 3, 2024 - original, 930s

Vespera Pro

M 44, Feb 4, 2025 - large, 39 min		M 44, Feb 4, 2025 - large, 39 min, processed