A259

A259 is a designation that can refer to several different things, most notably a route in the United Kingdom and a star in the Messier catalog.

In the context of UK road numbering, A259 is a major road in the south of England. It runs along the coast from Folkestone in Kent to Brighton in East Sussex. The route is a significant artery for both local traffic and tourism, connecting several popular seaside towns. It is largely a coastal road, offering views of the English Channel for much of its length. The A259 has sections that are single and dual carriageway, and it passes through or near towns such as Hastings, Eastbourne, and Worthing.

In astronomy, A259 is also known as Messier 44 or Praesepe. This is an open star cluster located in the constellation Cancer. It is visible to the naked eye and is one of the closest open clusters to Earth. Messier 44 has been known since antiquity and was cataloged by Charles Messier in 1769. It contains a large number of stars, estimated to be around a thousand, and is relatively young in astronomical terms. Its apparent size in the sky is considerable, making it a noticeable object for stargazers.