Open Cluster in Auriga
Star-hop chart
Messier's list contains three bright open clusters in the constellation Auriga (M36, M37, and M38). Each of these clusters has a distinctly different appearance through a telescope. Of the three, Messier 36 has the fewest stars: About 60 stars have been identified as members of the cluster, the brightest of which are about 9th magnitude. This is a relatively young open cluster, composed mainly of blue-white stars of spectral class B.
This cluster is a nice sight through binoculars or a telescope with a low-power eyepiece.
| Magnitude | 6.3 |
| Apparent Size | 12' |
| Distance (light yrs) | 4,100 |
| Right Ascension | 5:36.2 |
| Declination | +34 08 |
Image details: Exposure times of 66 minutes luminance and 15 minutes each of red, green, and blue, taken with an SBIG ST-8300M imager and a 14" Meade LX850 telescope at f/6.
December 2014