MESSIER 35

This lovely open cluster lies at the southern end of the rectangle that makes the classical figure of Gemini. At the limit of naked-eye vision, it is really a binocular (and telescopic) object. At a distance of about 3000 light years, over 30 light years across, and about 150 million years old, Messier 35 would indeed be visible to the eye were it not for nearly a full magnitude of dimming caused by interstellar dust lying in the line sight. The stars are all too faint to have common names. The only stars labelled are those that appear in the classic Henry Draper (HD) Catalogue. University of Illinois Prairie Observatory.