Messier 41



Messier 41 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.M41 lies about four degrees almost exactly south of Sirius, and forms a triangle with it and Nu. Canis Majoris—all three can be seen in the same field in binoculars. The cluster itself covers an area around the size of the full moon. It contains about 100 stars including several red giants, the brightest being a spectral type K3 giant of apparent magnitude 6.3 near the cluster's center, and a number of white dwarfs.The cluster is estimated to be moving away from us at 23.3 km/s.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.

Session References
HGS Sessions - Clearing the Blood Sacrifice/Astral Grids 3/3/2015 HGS Sessions - Clearing Chamaeleon, Lacerta, Piscis Austrinus - 3/20/2015