Mars and “The Beehive Cluster”
Sketch and Details by Michael Rosolina
The clouds parted over West Virginia the other night allowing me to view Mars shortly after it passed in front of Messier 44, the Beehive.
I made this widefield sketch in order to capture the star cluster and its two attendants, Asellus Borealis–the Northern Ass and Asellus Australis, the Southern Ass. In Galileo’s time (about 180 years before Charles Messier catalogued it), M44 was known as Praesepe, the manger, where the Aselli ate their hay.
Praesepe was one of the objects that Galileo scrutinized with his new telescopes, discovering that it was a star cluster and not a nebula or cloud as previously thought. One of his scopes had about 15x, although he didn’t enjoy nearly the field of view that I had with my modern binoculars.
I made this sketch in the field with color pencils on black paper. I couldn’t give Mars the luminous appearance that I observed using color pencils on black paper, so I tweaked it a little digitally.
I am dedicating this drawing to a friend who passed away not long ago. Eric realized his dreams of astronomy by becoming an operator of the 100 meter radio telescope at Green Bank, West Virginia.
Best regards,
Michael Rosolina
Mars and M44
Planet and Open Cluster
Friars Hill, WV USA
3 November 2009 0830-0900 UT
Michael,
This is another splendid view of Mars and M44.
Thanks!
Marek
I’m quite happy that there were more than one entry on this typical conjunction of Mars & M44. Michael, I like the way you added N. and S. Asellus to the sketch. It does give it a better perspective. Thanks to all.
Michael,
Beautiful. It looks fantastic.
Frank 🙂
Thanks for the kind comments, eveyone.
Michael