M44 (NGC 2632) Cnc open cluster
Difficulty level 1

Date of observation: 2001/03/31 23:50
Observing site: Hoshinomura
Transparency/seeing/sky darkness: 2/3/2
Instruments: 32cm Dobsonian with WF32 at 50x
Width of field: 1.4 degrees
This is an open cluster at the center of Cancer. It is also called the Praesepe. It is very large and bright. The cluster surrounded by four faint stars is easily visible to the unaided eye.
This sketch was made under 6.6-day moon, but because it is a bright cluster it was not much affected by moonlight.
Bright stars spread over the 1.4-degree field. Bright stars are similar in brightness. There are not many faint stars involved. Stars are forming many small triangles looking like wine glasses.