M35 Open Cluster (aka NGC 2168)
Apparent Magnitude: 5.1
Distance: Aprox: 3,870 light-years
Constellation: Gemini
Star Count: Aprox 500
Diameter: 22 light-years
The cluster consists of several hundred stars, of which 120 are brighter than magnitude 13. Messier 35 is the only Messier object in Gemini. The best time of year to observe it from northern latitudes is in the winter months, when the constellation is high overhead. M35 lies near the border with Taurus, Auriga and Orion. It is easy to find as it is located about 3.5 degrees northwest of the star Mu Geminorum, in the middle of a region that contains some of the brightest stars in the sky: Aldebaran, Capella, Betelgeuse, Castor and Pollux.
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NGC 2158 Open Cluster
Apparent Magnitude: 8.6
Distance: Aprox: 11,000 light-years
Constellation: Gemini
Another open cluster, NGC 2158, lies about 15 arc minutes to the southwest of M35 and can be seen in larger amateur telescopes. NGC 2158 has a visual magnitude of 8.6 and occupies an area of 5 arc minutes. It is considerably older, more compact and contains more stars. It is also more than five times more distant than M35 and the two clusters are not physically related.
Taken 1/5/19 in Grand Rapids Ohio by Russell Kille on a CPC 1100 with Hyperstar @ F2 and ZWO ASI294MC Pro camera