Surprising Science — February 23, 2014

The Beehive Cluster

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M44 is a cluster of young stars some 600 light-years away from Earth. Also known as the Praesepe or Beehive Cluster, its stars are around 600 million years old compared to our Sun’s 4.5 billion years and the closest cluster to our galaxy, according to NASA. Some of its yellowish-colored stars and red giants make it a popular treasure for binocular-equipped star gazers.

Image source: NASA

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