M44 - The Beehive Cluster in Cancer with Jupiter

Sometimes the night sky gives you some real treasures.  Shown here is Jupiter within a degree or so of the Beehive (or Praesepe) cluster, one of the skies brightest open clusters.  Normally a naked eye object, M44 was not on this night, being outshown by Jupiter's bright glare.  A neat juxtaposition of DSO and Solar System objects.

Location:  Fort Worth Astronomy Society observing site near Springtown, Texas
Date/Time:  March 29, 2003.
Equipment:  10" LX-200 with Nikon F2 piggybacked, Nikkor 200mm f/4 lens
Exposure Info:  One 5 minute exposure @  f/4.  Unguided.
Film:  Kodak Royal Gold 400 Select Series

Processing Info:  Cropping and levels adjustment in Photoshop 5.

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