25 Jun
2011
25 Jun
'11
10:02 p.m.
Kim asked:
Any idea why it's called Ptolemy's cluster? Might be a good story there.
The cluster is naked eye and was first documented by Ptolemy in 136AD in his stellar catalogue in the Algamest as id no. 567 with the description ``following the sting of Scorpius and nebulous''. http://seds.org/messier/xtra/Bios/ptolemy.html Ptolemy also recorded the Beehive Cluster (M44) and another currently popular binocular object - the Coma Berenices Cluster, which is visible above Salt Lake during this time of the year. Clear Skies - Kurt