Fact Sheet
Open With a Pair
Two "open" star clusters stand near the feet of Gemini. M35 is a spread-out cluster that fills most of the image, while the farther and more tightly packed NGC 2158 is at lower right. Both clusters are fairly easy to find with binoculars now because they are near Venus, the brilliant "evening star." Open clusters are families of a few hundred to a few thousand stars. Most of them are fairly young, because most open clusters don't stay together for long. [N.A.Sharp/NOAO/AURA/NSF]
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