Click on the image for a full resolution version
Messier 41 is an open cluster located in the constellation Canis Major, not far away from the bright star Sirius. It is a loosely populated cluster (about 100 stars) and its age has been estimated at 200 million years. The star right in the center of the image is a spectral type K3 red giant (HD 49091). The bright blue star on the upper left is 12 CMa, a B7 star that does not belong to the cluster. It is located at 670 light years, way less than the distance to M41, 2,300 light years.
Additional Information
Object
Name(s): Messier 41. M41. NGC 2287
Type: Open Cluster
RA: 06h 46m 00.3s
Dec: -20º 45’ 05”
Constellation: Canis Major
Size (arcmin): 38×38 arcmin
Magnitude: +4.5
Distance: 2.300 ly
Image
Date: 2020-12-26 to 2021-01-22
Location: iTelescope.net, SSO near Coonabarabran, NSW Australia
Size (arcmin): 41×41 arcmin
Telescope: 17” f/6.8 Reflector
Camera: FLI PL16803 (4096x4096pix)
Guiding: Astrodon MonsterMOAG off-axis guider
Total exposure: 2h 30m (L: 50m; RGB: 1h 40m)
Processing: CCDStack, Photoshop CC 2021 and PixInsight