(IAAC) Obj: M44 (Praesepe, Beehive) - Inst: naked eye

[John M. McMahon]

Observation Poster: Lew Gramer <dedalus at alum.mit.edu>

> NOTE: This is an actual observation - the Beehive was just barely
> visible to the naked eye from my highly light-polluted back yard
> this night... It required me to shield myself from the incredible
> array of local artificial sources - crouching in a tiny, shadowy
> corner of the yard for 5 minutes until my eyes adapted.

There's hope -- and help -- out there:

http://www.darksky.org/

BTW, Comet NEAT has become visible with the naked eye, and is quite a sight
even in 7x50s.

Darker skies,

John McMahon
Tully, NY