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The famous Beehive cluster was described by Galileo and has been known since antiquity.
It is easily visible to the unaided eye as a faint round patch of luminosity.
In binoculars it resembles a swarm of bees, giving rise to its popular name.
The cluster contains many double stars.
The Beehive is best seen in binoculars and in telescopes under low power.
The cluster occupies 1.2° of sky and is set against a region of low star density,
making it stand out even more.
This cluster of several hundred stars may share a common origin with the Hyades Cluster.
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