Stirling Astronomical Society Gallery

The Beehive cluster (M44) is an open cluster in Cancer. Also known as Praesepe, the Beehive contains numerous young stars with a range of colours from blue to red. Approximately 610 light years from Earth, M44 is estimated to be 600 to 700 million years old. In the early hours of 11 October, M44 was joined by the planet Mars.