M 34

This intermediate aged (190 million years according to the Sky Catalog 2000) open cluster of about 100 stars (according to H.S. Hogg) lies about 1,400 light years and is scattered over 35 arc minutes, more than the diameter of the full Moon. This angular diameter corresponds to a linear 14 light years; Wallenquist has estimated a little more (42' corresponding to 18.5 light years).

Open cluster M34 can quite easily be found (even with the naked eye under good conditions) as it lies just north of the line from Algol (Beta Persei) to Gamma Andromedae.

Right ascension	02 : 38.8 (hours : minutes)
Declination	+42 : 34 (degrees : minutes)
Distance	1400.0 (light-years*10^3)
Visual magnitude	5.5