This fine bright cluster is lost amidst a sea of celestial treasure in summer's swan, Cygnus. The bright Messier cluster, M39, lies just 2.6 degrees to the northeast. Two NGC open clusters are in the vicinity, as are five planetary nebulae and at least one cataloged dark nebulae. It's worth the effort to sift through these beauties to reach NGC 7044. My sketch presents the 8.3 magnitude cluster as it appears in my 10-inch Meade Newtonian at 129X. A 9th magnitude GSC star is centered and the open cluster lies immediately to the east. Its 4'.3 size is punctuated by 19 stars between 12th and 9th magnitude. These adorn the diffuse glow of dozens of unresolved cluster members. Forty field stars, the brightest shining at 8th magnitude, provide context.