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M37

Messier 37
Open Star Cluster

Right Ascension 5h 52m 21s Best Seen 12/15-5/15
Declination 32° 33' 06" Magnitude 6.2
Constellation Auriga

Actual
Compared
to Sun
Distance 4,400 ly --
Diameter 20-25 ly --
Number of Stars ~500 1
Actual Brightness -- --
Age 300 million years 5 billion
Integrated Spectral Type -- G2 V
Density (gram/cubic cm) -- --

What To Look For Through The Telescope


  1. Recommended eyepiece: 40mm or 80 mm.

  2. Through the telescope the cluster will appear as a group of individual stars, resembling sugar or salt sprinkled on a dark table top.


M37 Information


  1. Average separation of stars in this cluster is about 1 light year.

  2. The total luminosity of this cluster is 2,500 times the luminosity of the sun. Hence there are a number of bright stars in this cluster.

  3. This cluster was discovered before in 1654 by Giovanni Batista Hodierna. It was independently found by Charles Messier in 1764.

  4. This is the brightest of three open clusters in southern Auriga.

  5. M37 contains a considerable number of red giants.

Home > Star Clusters > Open > M37 > Reference top
References
Item Updated Notes
Coordinates 2002-12-10 split difference between SIMBAD (05 52 19 +32 33.2) and http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m037.html (05 52.4 +32 33)
Magnitude 2002-12-10 OK with SIMBAD and http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m037.html
Distance 2002-12-10 OK with http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m037.html
Actual Brightness --
Number of Stars 2002-12-10 OK with http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m037.html
Diameter 2002-12-10 OK with http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m037.html
Age 2002-12-10 OK with http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m037.html
Integrated Spectral Type --
Other Information 2002-12-10 Cannot find support for Items 1-2
Other info from http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m037.html