Deep space
Shoe-Buckle Cluster
Open cluster · M35 · NGC 2168
Open cluster in Gemini
Photo: Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Messier 35 or M35, also known as NGC 2168 or the Shoe-Buckle Cluster, is a relatively close open cluster of stars in the west of Gemini, at about the declination of the Sun when the latter is at June solstice. It was discovered by Philippe Loys de Chéseaux around 1745 and independently discovered by John Bevis before 1750. It is scattered over part of the sky almost the size of the full moon and is 2,970 light-years away. The compact open cluster NGC 2158 lies directly southwest of it.
Description from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
In your sky
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Key facts
Distance
~2,800 light-years
Apparent mag.
+5.3
Apparent size
28′
Best seen with
Naked eye (dark sky)
Catalogue
M35 · NGC 2168
Did you know
- Listed as Messier 35 in the Messier catalogue, also known as NGC 2168.
- Found in the constellation Gemini.
- Visible to the naked eye from a dark, moonless site.
