Deep space
Pinwheel Cluster
Open cluster · M36 · NGC 1960
Open cluster in Auriga
Photo: Ole Nielsen · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons
Messier 36 or M36, also known as NGC 1960 or the Pinwheel Cluster, is an open cluster of stars in the somewhat northern constellation Auriga. It was discovered by Giovanni Batista Hodierna before 1654, who described it as a nebulous patch. The cluster was independently re-discovered by Guillaume Le Gentil in 1749, then Charles Messier observed it in 1764 and added it to his catalogue. It is about 1,330 pc away from Earth. The cluster is very similar to the Pleiades cluster (M45), and if as far away it would be of similar apparent magnitude.
Description from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
In your sky
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Key facts
Distance
~4,100 light-years
Apparent mag.
+6.3
Apparent size
12′
Best seen with
Naked eye (dark sky)
Catalogue
M36 · NGC 1960
Did you know
- Listed as Messier 36 in the Messier catalogue, also known as NGC 1960.
- Found in the constellation Auriga.
- Visible to the naked eye from a dark, moonless site.
