44 (number) - Definition and Overview

44 is the natural number following 43 and preceding 45.

In mathematics

Forty-four is a tribonacci number and an octahedral number.

In science

• The atomic number of ruthenium

In astronomy,

Messier object M44, a magnitude 4.0 open cluster in the constellation Cancer, also known as the Beehive Cluster

The New General Catalogue object (http://www.ngcic.org/) NGC 44, a double star in the constellation Andromeda

The Saros number (http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEsaros/SEsaros1-175.html) of the solar eclipse series which began on -1447 April 30 and ended on -167 June 7. The duration of Saros series 44 was 1280.1 years, and it contained 72 solar eclipses.

The Saros number (http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/LEsaros/LEsaros1-175.html) of the lunar eclipse series which began on -1362 October 1 and ended on 153 March 27. The duration of Saros series 44 was 1514.5 years, and it contained 85 lunar eclipses.

In other fields

Forty-four is also:

• The code for international direct dial phone calls to the United Kingdom.
• The designation of Interstate 44, a freeway that runs from Texas to Missouri.
• A poker game in which each player is dealt four cards down, and four cards are dealt face down on the table in a row. The first three cards on the table are "community" cards and may be used in any player's hand. The fourth card and any card matching it in rank is wild, and can also be used in a hand (each player is guaranteed one wild card). For each of four rounds, one "community" card is flipped up and a round of betting occurs. After the last round, the winner is the person with the highest poker hand.
• The name of a mysterious saviour of Poland prophesied in Adam Mickiewicz's drama Dziady.
• The year AD 44, 44 BC, and 1944.