Waid Observatory

Object: M37
Date: Mar. 25, 2006      -      Location: Margate, FL
Telescope: MK-69   Mount: MI-250   Camera: ST-10XME   Filters: Astrodon TruBalance / Hutech IDAS
Exposure: L = 6 X 5 min. (Bin 1X1)   R G & B = 6 X 5 min. each (Bin 1X1)
Click on the image below to view at higher resolution.

 

M37 Open Cluster in Auriga

 

M37 1

M37 Discovered by Giovanni Batista Hodierna before 1654.

M37 is a dense open cluster located approximately 4,400 light years from the Earth in the constellation Auriga.  The cluster has am estimated population of about 500 stars of which 150 are brighter than magnitude 12.5.  M37 has a relatively large number of red giant stars along with hot main sequence blue stars.  The age of the cluster is estimated to be about 300 million years.  The cluster spans an angular dimension of 24 minutes of arc which equates to about 20 to 25 light years in diameter.

1http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m037.html

 
Copyright Donald P. Waid