Messier Index/M41

Messier 41 300px Credit: w:2MASS/w:NASA. w:J2000 Open cluster 06 46.0SIMBAD Astronomical Database Results for Messier 41 http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/Simbad 2006-12-21 -20 46 2,300 lyFebruary 2007 710 pc 4.5 38′February 2007 - 12.5 ly - 190-240 million yrsFebruary 2007 w:Canis Major M41, NGC 2287 Messier 41 (also known as M41 or NGC 2287) is an w:open cluster in the Canis Major constellation. It was discovered by w:Giovanni Batista Hodierna before w:1654 and was perhaps known to w:Aristotle about w:325 BC.M41 possibly recorded by Aristotle M41 lies about four degrees almost exactly south of w:Sirius. It contains about 100 stars including several w:red giants, the brightest being a w:spectral type K3 giant near the cluster's center. The cluster is estimated to be moving away from us at 23.3 km/s. The w:diameter of the cluster is between 25 and 26 w:light years. Its age is estimated at between 190 and 240 million years old. M41 is also referred to as NGC 2287. External links Messier 41, SEDS Messier pages NightSkyInfo.com - M41 References