File:IC_410_-_IC_417_-_NGC_1912_in_Auriga.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Messier 38
Sign in to saveAlso known as M38, New General Catalogue 1912
open cluster in the constellation Auriga
Messier 38 is a group of stars clustered together in the constellation Auriga that can be seen in the night sky. It's one of several similar star clusters cataloged by astronomers and serves as an interesting target for people observing the stars with telescopes or binoculars.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Wikidata facts
- Distance from Earth
- 1066
- Radius
- 12.5
- Image
- M38a.jpg
Show 12 more facts
- catalog code
- Collinder 67
- radial velocity
- -45
- time of discovery or invention
- 1654-01-01
- Commons gallery
- Messier 38
- apparent magnitude
- 6.4
- spectral class
- II
- declination
- 35.8550
- right ascension
- 82.1792
- metallicity
- -0.10
- right ascension component of proper motion
- 0.36
- Commons category
- Messier 38
- declination component of proper motion
- -5.51
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Article
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