M29 is an open cluster of stars in the constellation Cygnus the Swan.  The distance to the cluster is somewhat in question due to the uncertainty of the absorption, by interstellar dust and gas, of the light from the cluster.  It is estimated to be between 3,700 and 7,200 light-years from the Earth.  The consensus of opinions is that the cluster is approximately 4,000 light-years distance.  The stars in M29 are estimated to have formed approximately 10 million years ago.  In astronomical terms, this is only a blink of the eye.  In comparison, our Sun is about 4.5 billion years old.  The cluster is relatively bright and may be observed under dark sky conditions using binoculars.

¹http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_29
²http://www.messier.seds.org/m/m029.html