Open cluster · Gemini
M35 Shoe-Buckle Cluster
Also known as: NGC 2168
mag 5.128′ across
About
M35, the Shoe-Buckle Cluster, is an open cluster of magnitude 5.1 in Gemini, about 28′ across.
How to find it
- M35 is in the constellation Gemini.
- Best evenings: around early February it is highest at about 9 pm (10 pm in summer time); a month earlier, two hours later.
- Where on Earth: it is seen well, at least 10° up, from north of 56° S.
- Winter Hexagon: A rich cluster at the feet of the Twins; binoculars.
When it rises and sets tonight, how high it climbs and how much the Moon gets in the way are worked out in your browser for your place.
What you will see
- EyesA faint smudge at the limit of vision, only from a dark site.
- Binoculars (10×50)A rich scattering of stars — binoculars often give the best view.
- Telescope (6–8 inch)Dozens of stars, many sharp and some coloured.
For a dark country sky with no Moon. From a city, faint galaxies and nebulae can disappear completely.
Facts
| Designations | M35, NGC 2168 |
|---|---|
| Type | Open cluster |
| Magnitude | 5.1The smaller the number, the brighter. |
| Apparent size | 28′the full Moon is 31′ across |
| Constellation | Gemini |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 06h 09m 05.1s |
| Declination (J2000) | +24° 20′ 19″ |
More in Gemini
Sources and credits
Catalog data: OpenNGC by Mattia Verga, CC BY-SA 4.0, and d3-celestial by Olaf Frohn, BSD 3-Clause. All data sources →