| Messier 41 | |
|---|---|
Credit: 2MASS/NASA |
|
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Constellation | Canis Major |
| Right ascension | 06h 46.0m[1] |
| Declination | -20° 46′[1] |
| Distance | 2,300 ly[2] (710 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 4.5[1] |
| Apparent dimensions (V) | 38 arcmin[2] |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Radius | 12.5 ly |
| Estimated age | 190-240 million yrs |
| Other designations | M41,[1] NGC 2287[1] |
| See also: Open cluster, List of open clusters | |
Messier 41 (also known as M41 or NGC 2287) is an open cluster in the Canis Major constellation. It was discovered by Giovanni Batista Hodierna before 1654 and was perhaps known to Aristotle about 325 BC.[3] M41 lies about four degrees almost exactly south of Sirius. It contains about 100 stars including several red giants, the brightest being a spectral type K3 giant near the cluster's center. The cluster is estimated to be moving away from us at 23.3 km/s.[1] The diameter of the cluster is between 25 and 26 light years. Its age is estimated at between 190 and 240 million years old. M41 is also referred to as NGC 2287.
Walter Scott Houston describes the appearance of the cluster in small telescopes:[4]
Many visual observers speak of seeing curved lines of stars in M41. Although they seem inconspicuous on photographs, the curves stand out strongly in my 10-inch [reflecting telescope], and the bright red star near the center of the cluster is prominent.
Coordinates: 06h 46.0m 00s, −20° 46′ 00″
|
|||||||||||