M44. Credit: Phil Harrington As winter’s brilliant stars slip toward the western horizon and the constellations of spring climb higher, Northern Hemisphere observers discover a quieter but richly rewarding sky. Spring is celebrated for its galaxies, yet our own Milky Way offers an equally compelling bounty of open and globular clusters. From youthful, loosely packed groups that still sparkle along the fading winter Milky Way to ancient spheres that hover near the galactic halo, from the feet of Gemini to the long winding tail of Hydra, these stellar gatherings invite exploration. Spring open clusters Let’s begin our journey in Gemini, a “bridge” constellation: While normally associated with the winter sky, the twin brothers hang in the west well into spring after their frosty compatriots have set.  M35. Credit: Phil Harrington We find M35 , a magnificent open cluster, lying near the foot of Pollux. M35 was discovered by Swiss astronomer Philippe Loys de Chéseaux around 1745.…