Starwatch: patience is needed to observe Cancer’s beehive cluster

Constellation of Cancer is not easy to locate but reward is the star cluster M44 at its centre

The constellation of Cancer, the crab, is now high in the southern sky during the late evening. While not the easiest constellation to locate because it does not contain any truly bright stars, it does offer a reward for patient observation: the star cluster M44, also known as the beehive cluster.

Begin by finding Cancer. It is located halfway between the constellations of Gemini, the twins, and Leo, the lion. The chart shows the view looking south from London at 10pm UK time on 9 March.

M44 is then located at the centre of the constellation. Although visible to the naked eye, you will need a dark sky to see it. Find your location well away from street lights and give your eyes a good 20 minutes to adjust.

Find the two bright stars Castor and Pollux in Gemini, then look eastwards towards Leo, identified by its distinctive backwards question mark of stars, known as the sickle. Halfway between these constellations M44 will appear as a faint patch of light.

The beehive cluster spans a region of sky about three times the apparent diameter of the full Moon. It has been known since antiquity.

From the southern hemisphere, Cancer appears lower and in the north western sky.