Messier 34

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**Messier 34**
Observation data: J2000.0 epoch
2MASS image of M34 (taken in infrared band; falsecolor)
Class:	I,3,m
Constellation:	Perseus
Right ascension:	02^h 42.1^m^[1]
Declination:	+42° 46′^[1]
Distance:	1.4 kly^{[citation needed]} (0.4 kPc)
Apparent magnitude (V):	5.5^{[citation needed]}
Apparent dimensions (V):	35.0′^{[citation needed]}
Physical characteristics
Mass:	(- M_☉)
Radius:	7 ly^{[citation needed]}
V_HB:	-
Estimated age:	180 million years^{[citation needed]}
Notable features:
Other designations:	NGC 1039^[1]
See also: Open cluster, List of open clusters

Messier 34 (also known as M 34 or NGC 1039) is an open cluster in the constellation Perseus. It was discovered by Giovanni Batista Hodierna before 1654 and included by Charles Messier in his catalog of comet-like objects in 1764.

M34 is at a distance of about 1,400 light-years away from Earth and consists of some 100 stars. It spans about 35' on the sky which translates to a true radius of 7 light years. The cluster is just visible to the naked eye in very dark conditions, well away from city lights. It is well seen in binoculars.