Deep space
Starfish Cluster
Open cluster · M38 · NGC 1912
Open cluster in Auriga
Photo: Miguel Garcia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Messier 38 or M38, also known as NGC 1912 or Starfish Cluster, is an open cluster of stars in the constellation of Auriga. It was discovered by Giovanni Batista Hodierna before 1654 and independently found by Guillaume Le Gentil in 1749. The open clusters M36 and M37, also discovered by Hodierna, are often grouped together with M38. Distance is about 1.066 kpc (3,480 ly) away from Earth. The open cluster NGC 1907 lies nearby on the sky, but the two are most likely just experiencing a fly-by, having originated in different parts of the galaxy.
Description from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
In your sky
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Key facts
Distance
~4,200 light-years
Apparent mag.
+7.4
Apparent size
21′
Best seen with
Binoculars
Catalogue
M38 · NGC 1912
Did you know
- Listed as Messier 38 in the Messier catalogue, also known as NGC 1912.
- Found in the constellation Auriga.
- Within reach of ordinary binoculars under dark skies.
