Starfish Cluster (M38)
Also known as M38 · M 38 · Starfish Cluster · NGC 1912
Starfish Cluster (M38) is an open star cluster in the constellation Auriga, about 3,600 light-years from Earth.
Facts
| Type | Open star cluster |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Auriga |
| Position (J2000) | 5h 28m 42s, +35° 51′ |
| Distance | 3,600 light-years (its light set off about 3,600 years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 6.4 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Size on the sky | 19.6′ × 19.6′ (the full Moon is about 31′) |
| Filter | No filter (It shines in starlight of every colour, so a nebula filter would only dim it; a dark sky helps more.) |
| Studied in | 190 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Starfish Cluster (M38) is highest in the sky at midnight in December. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 74° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 76°. To see it you need binoculars.
Heights are worked out for India and for 50° N. Set your location in Settings to see them for where you are.
For tonight's best time from your own town, the darkness and the Moon, open it on the map and see its "Tonight from your location" card.
More in Auriga
- Capella
- Epsilon Aurigae
- Flaming Star Nebula (IC 405)
- FRB 121102
- M37 (NGC 2099)
- Pinwheel Cluster (M36)
- Tadpoles Nebula
- Westbrook Nebula
Everything in Auriga · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits