| Open
Cluster
aka NGC 1912, Melotte 36, Collinder 67, Raab 26, OCL 433 Integrated Visual Magnitude: 6.8 Apparent Diameter: 21' Distance 4300 ly Physical Diameter: 26 ly Age: 155 Myr Minimum requirements to view: binoculars and suburban skies |
M38 is the northern-most of a chain of three bright open clusters in Auriga. Each of these clusters has its own unique identity. In the case of M38 we see a loose, irregular grouping of 10-11th magnitude stars sprinkled over a failry rich field of fainter points of light. Of M38 Web said, "Larger stars dot it prettily with open doubles. Glorious neighborhood."
The field in a 6-inch
at 50x. North is down and east is to the right.
Don't miss the nearby
open cluster NGC 1907. This cluster is much fainter and smaller,
offering a nice study in contrast. The integrated visual magnitude
of NGC 1907 is 10.2, and it subtends a much smaller 6'. In contrast
to their appearance, these two clusters are about the same age and distance.
NGC 1907 is a bit more heavily obscured by intervening dust.
| Millennium
Star Atlas Vol I Chart 113
Sky Atlas 2000 Chart 5 Uranometria 2000 Vol I Chart 97 |
