M34, also known as the Andromeda Galaxy, is a spiral galaxy located approximately 2.537 million light-years from Earth. It is one of the closest galaxies to our Milky Way and is part of the Local Group of galaxies. M34 is notable for its bright core and numerous star clusters, making it a popular target for amateur astronomers. Discovered by Charles Messier in 1764, M34 is classified as an open star cluster. It contains hundreds of stars, many of which are young and hot. The cluster is located in the constellation Perseus and is easily visible with binoculars or small telescopes.