Messier 36 - NGC 1960

No dss image available for Messier 36
 
Aladin viewer for the region around Messier 36
Pinwheel Cluster
Bode 12, h 358, GC 1166, Melotte 37, Mel 37, Collinder 71, Cr 71, C 0532+341, OCl 445

Type  Open Cluster
Magnitude  6
Size  12'
Right Ascension  5h 36' 17.7"  (2000)
Declination  34° 8' 27" N
Constellation  Auriga
Description  Cl, B, vL, vRi, lC, *9..11
Classification  II 3 m
Observing Notes

Andrew Cooper
Jan 11, 2023    Waikoloa, HI (map)
11.4cm f/4 Newtonian, Kinipōpō @ 18x
Seeing: 6 Transparency: 6 Moon: 0%

A bright rich cluster in a spectacularly rich region that includes M38, NGC 1907 and much more, rich, partially resolved, bright and obvious in the RFT, a notable radial pattern of brighter members superimposed upon the cluster

Andrew Cooper
Feb 19, 2018    Waikoloa, HI (map)
20cm f/6 Newtonian, Cave Astrola @ 92x
Seeing: 6 Transparency: 6 Moon: 20%

A bright obvious cluster, coarse, fully resolved, about 20' in diameter, a few loose chains of stars radiate from the center

Andrew Cooper
Jan 4, 2015    Waikoloa, HI (map)
28cm f/10 SCT, NexStar 11" Gypsy @ 80x
Seeing: 6 Transparency: 6 Moon: 0%

Bright, coarse, fully resolved, a hundred or more members scattered in a very distinct cluster about 10' in diameter

Andrew Cooper
Oct 21, 2006    TIMPA, Avra Valley, AZ (map)
12x36 Canon Image Stabilized Binoculars

Bright, smaller than M37 and M38, resolved, in a very nice field, M37 one field east, M38 less than a field (3°) west

Andrew Cooper
Sep 30, 2005    Gila, New Mexico (map)
90mm F/12 APO Violet Haze

Smaller than nearby M37 or M38, coarse, but brighter than either, sparse, a few dozen stars in a circular clump, easy and bright in 9x63 binoculars

Rev. T.W. Webb
May 19, 1885    Hardwick, Herefordshire, England (map)

Beautiful assemblage of stars 8 th 14 mg., very regularly arranged. 2° f φ.
― Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes, T. W. Webb, 1917

Captain William Henry Smyth
Sep 16, 1836    No. 6 The Crescent, Bedford, England (map)
150mm f/17.6 refractor by Tully 1827

A neat double star in a splendid cluster, on the robe below the Waggoner's left thigh, and near the centre of the Galaxy stream. A 8, and B 9, both white; in a rich though open splash of stars from the 8th to the 14th magnitudes, with numerous outliers, like the device of a star whose rays are formed of small stars. This object was registered by M. in 1764; and the double star, as H. remarks, is admirably placed, for future astronomers to ascertain whether there be internal motion in clusters. A line carried from the central star in Orion's belt, through ζ Tauri, and continued about 13° beyond, will reach the cluster, following φ Aurigæ by about two degrees.
― A Cycle of Celestial Objects Vol II, The Bedford Catalogue, William Henry Smyth, 1844

Charles Messier
Jan 2, 1758    

Cluster of stars in Auriga, near the star Phi: with an ordinary telescope of 3.5 foot one has pain to distinguish the stars, the cluster contains no nebulosity. Its position determined from Phi.
― Connaissance des Temps, 1781
Other Data Sources for Messier 36
Nearby objects for Messier 36
Credits...

Drawings, descriptions, and CCD photos are copyright Andrew Cooper unless otherwise noted, no usage without permission.

A complete list of credits and sources can be found on the about page

Messier 36