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Gemini - "The Twins"
March 2001
The brightest object in Gemini is open cluster M35 (NGC 2168) shining at magnitude 5.9, just within visibility of the unaided eye under dark skies. A third of a degree west of M35 is a smaller open cluster NGC 2158 at magnitude 8.6, continuing west another half a degree is is IC 2157 at mag 8.4, and along another degree is the next brightest object in this area; NGC 2129. This last object lies on the border of Taurus, shining at magnitude 6.7, and should be visible even in binoculars. Just under 2 degrees south of the star Mebsuta lies a faint open cluster NGC 2266 at magnithude 10, while 5.6 degrees east of the star is 9th magnitude NGC 2331. Lying between the "legs" of Pollux is 10th magnitude open cluster NGC 2304.
Near the northern confines of Gemini are a pair of open clusters; NGC 2355 and NGC 2395, magnitude 10 and 8 respectively, and lying 2.6 and 3.6 degrees north of Lambda Geminorium. Lying 2.3 degrees east of the star Wasat is the famous planetary nebula the "Eskimo Nebula", while shining at 10th magnitude Observing the Constellations assures us that a telescope of 6 inches will show "a small greenish ball with fuzzy edges". An 8 inch 'scope will begin to show an outer ring or shell, which becomes very evident 16 inches or larger. The final object shown in the chart below lies 2.25 degrees east of the Eskimo Nebula and is another open cluster, NGC 2420 at 8.3 magnitude.
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