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. For the Dwarf mini, I need a mosaic to capture the whole star cluster.

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

Dwarf mini

M 44, Mar 19, 2026 - original, 25 min, processed with Stellar Studio		M 44, Mar 19, 2026 - original, 25 min, processed with Stellar Studio and post-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 photographed; 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)

Observations March 2026

• March 19, 2026 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Dwarf mini): Praesepe M 44 photographed as a mosaic (25 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
• DwarfLab Dwarf mini - 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

Dwarf mini

M 44, Mar 19, 2026 - original, 25 min, processed with Stellar Studio		M 44, Mar 19, 2026 - original, 25 min, processed with Stellar Studio and post-processed