• M44 The Beehive Cluster, Praesepe •

October 3, 2021 The Beehive Cluster (Latin: Praesepe), also known as M44, NGC 2632, or OCL 507, is an open star cluster in the constellation Cancer. With an apparent magnitude of +3.7, it is visible to the naked eye and has been known since ancient times, making it a favorite among amateur astronomers. The Beehive is one of the nearest star clusters to Earth, located approximately 550–600 light-years away, according to various estimates.