Messier 38. NGC 1912. The Starfish Cluster

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Messier 38 (or NGC 1912, the Starfish Cluster) is an intermediate age open cluster (250 million years). Located 3,500 light years away, in the constellation Auriga, is appears to be in the vicinity of M36 and M37. Their distances are in the same range (3,500 to 4,500 light years. M38 lies very close to another open cluster, NGC 1907, and they seem to be experiencing a fly-by . In this case, they have originated in different parts of the galaxy and they just happen to be crossing paths.

 

Additional Information

Object

Name(s): Messier 38. M38. NGC 1912. Starfish Cluster.

Type: Open Cluster

RA:  05h 28m 43s

Dec: +35º 51’ 18”

Constellation: Auriga

Size (arcmin): 21×21 arcmin

Magnitude: +7.4

Distance: 4,500 ly

Image

Date: 2021-09-17

Location: Curiosity2 Observatory, New Mexico Skies, Mayhill, NM, USA

Size (arcmin):30.5×31 arcmin

Telescope: 24” (61 cm) f/6.5 Reflector

Camera: FLI PL16803 (4096x4096pix)

Guiding: Astrodon MonsterMOAG off-axis guider

Total exposure: 3 hours (1 h each RGB)

Processing: CCDStack, Photoshop CC 2022

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