Messier 34 (M 34)

Introduction | Map | Sketch | 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 34 (NGC 1039) in the constellation Perseus.

Introduction

The open star cluster M 34 is located in the constellation Perseus to the West of the bright star Mirfak. According to Karkoschka and Stoyan, it is primarily an object for binoculars, but they also recommend to look at the cluster's center with a small telescope (that is, at low magnification).

M 34 (NGC 1039)
Size: 35' (Stoyan) - a little more than the size of the moon
Distance: 1,600 Light years (Stoyan)
Rating: *** (Stoyan)

Map

The open star cluster M 34 in the constellation Perseus is located to the West of the bright star Mirfak (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

Sketch

The sketch by Michael Vlasov (DeepSkyWatch.com) provides an impression of what I observed: Sketch of the M 34 star cluster by Michael Vlasov (Copyright © Michael Vlasov 2016)

Note: I only have the author's permission to link to the sketch.

My Best Own Photos

eVscope

M 34 - Sep 18, 2020		M 34 - Nov 14, 2020		M 34 - Nov 14, 2020
M 34 - Sep 18,2020, photo on top processed		M 34 - Nov 14, 2020, photo on top processed		M 34 - Nov 14, 2020, photo on top processed

Vespera

M 34 - Jan 9, 2024, original (290s)		M 34 - Jan 11, 2024, original (610s)

My Own Observations

Observations November 2017

• November 13, 2017 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Heritage 100P, LT, TS ): M 34 seen with Heritage 100P and my binoculars.

Observations September/October 2018

• Sep 22, 2018 (Sumène, Haute Loire, France: PS 72/432, TS binoculars): M 34 a glow in the TS bino, seen well with PS72
• Oct 5, 2018 (Sumène, Haute Loire, France: TS binoculars, LT binoculars): M 34 seen well, single stars

Observations September to October 2019

• October 3, 2019 (Sumène, France: StarTravel 120/600 on AZ Pronto Mount): M 34 (24, 10 mm) wide-spread...

Observations End of January to March 2020

• January 20, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: C8 on Star Discovery mount manual): M 34 looked "distributed"...
• January 28, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 34 photographed
• February 6, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 34 photographed
• March 18, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 34 photographed

Observations September to November 2020

• September 18, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 34 photographed in the new rectangular format without overlay
• November 14, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 34 photographed (r.f., n.o.)

Observations April 2022

• April 9, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope2): M 34 photographed (app version 1.5)

Observations January 2024

• January 9, 2024 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera): M 34 photographed
• January 11, 2024 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera): M 34 photographed

References

• Messier Catalogue - Messier 34: messier.seds.org/m/m034.html
• Messier 34 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_34

On this Site

• Sky-Watcher Heritage 100P Information (4" Dobson)
• Omegon Photography Scope 72/432 ED OTA Information (2.8" Refractor)
• Sky-Watcher StarTravel 120/600 OTA Information (4.7" Refractor, Borrowed)
• Celestron C8 OTA Information (8" Schmidt-Cassegrain)
• Unistellar eVscope Information
• Unistellar eVscope 2 Information
• Vaonis Vespera - Information
• Sky-Watcher Star Discovery AZ G
• oTo Mount Information
• Sky-Watcher AZ Pronto Mount Information
• My Binoculars

Appendix: My Own Photos

eVscope

M 34 - Jan 28, 2020		M 34 - Jan 28, 2020		M 34 - Feb 6, 2020
M 34 - Mar 18, 2020		M 34 - Mar 18, 2020, processed
M 34 - Sep 18, 2020		M 34 - Nov 14, 2020		M 34 - Nov 14, 2020
M 34 - Sep 18,2020, photo on top processed		M 34 - Nov 14, 2020, photo on top processed		M 34 - Nov 14, 2020, photo on top processed

eVscope 2

M 34 - Apr 9, 2022		M 34 - Apr 9, 2022, photo left processed

Vespera

M 34 - Jan 9, 2024, original (290s)		M 34 - Jan 11, 2024, Original (610s)