Star Clusters
5 Geminorum, Messier 35, NGC 2158 and IC 2157

The star on the extreme left is 5 Geminorum and the brightest single object. It is an orange giant star around 750 lightyears away and just visible to the naked eye under near-perfect skies.
To the right of this is the large cluster Messier 35, consisting mainly of young hot blue stars. It occupies an area the size of the full moon and is around 2800 lightyears distant
To the lower right of M35 is the cluster NGC 2158, at a distance of around 11000 lightyears. This comprises older yellower stars and is around 2 billion years old.
On the extreme right is the open cluster IC 2157, at around 6600 lightyears.

ZWO ASI071MC Pro camera through an Altair Astro 102ED telescope

Date: 15/02/2018

5 Geminorum, Messier 35, NGC 2158 and IC 2157

The star on the extreme left is 5 Geminorum and the brightest single object. It is an orange giant star around 750 lightyears away and just visible to the naked eye under near-perfect skies.
To the right of this is the large cluster Messier 35, consisting mainly of young hot blue stars. It occupies an area the size of the full moon and is around 2800 lightyears distant
To the lower right of M35 is the cluster NGC 2158, at a distance of around 11000 lightyears. This comprises older yellower stars and is around 2 billion years old.
On the extreme right is the open cluster IC 2157, at around 6600 lightyears.

ZWO ASI071MC Pro camera through an Altair Astro 102ED telescope

Date: 15/02/2018