The Beehive Cluster (M44)
R/B-band color composite image from the Second Digitized Sky Survey (DSS2), measuring 108 arcminutes across.
Finder chart
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From South El Monte , the Beehive Cluster is visible in the morning sky, becoming accessible around 22:16, when it reaches an altitude of 16° above your eastern horizon. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 03:50, 75° above your southern horizon. It will be lost to dawn twilight around 05:37, 62° above your south-western horizon.
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Name
The Beehive Cluster (M44)
|
Object type
Open cluster
|
Position
| Right ascension: | 08h40m [3] |
| Declination: | +19°40' [3] |
| Constellation: | Cancer |
| Magnitude: | 3.10 (V) [5] 3.46 (B) [3] |
| Distance: | 187.0 parsec 609.6 lightyrs [2] |
| B-V Color (mag): | 0.36 |
Derived quantities
| Absolute mag (V): | -3.26 |
Sources
Visibility from South El Monte
All times shown in South El Monte local time.
Events
| 31 Jan 2026 | – The Beehive cluster is well placed |
| 31 Jan 2027 | – The Beehive cluster is well placed |
| 31 Jan 2028 | – The Beehive cluster is well placed |
| 30 Jan 2029 | – The Beehive cluster is well placed |
| 31 Jan 2030 | – The Beehive cluster is well placed |
| 31 Jan 2031 | – The Beehive cluster is well placed |
| 31 Jan 2032 | – The Beehive cluster is well placed |
| 30 Jan 2033 | – The Beehive cluster is well placed |