Messier 41 | |
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![]() Open cluster Messier 41 in Canis Major | |
Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
Right ascension | 06h 46.0m [1] |
Declination | −20° 46′[1] |
Distance | 2,300 ly[2] (710 pc) |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 4.5[1] |
Apparent dimensions (V) | 38 arcmin[2] |
Physical characteristics | |
Radius | 12.5 ly |
Estimated age | 190 million yrs[3] |
Other designations | M41,[1] NGC 2287[1] |
Associations | |
Constellation | Canis Major |
Messier 41 (also known as M41 or NGC 2287) is an open cluster in the constellation Canis Major. It is sometimes referred to as the Little Beehive Cluster.[4] It was discovered by Giovanni Batista Hodierna before 1654 and was perhaps known to Aristotle about 325 BC.[5] It lies about four degrees almost exactly south of Sirius, with which it forms a roughly equilateral triangle with Nu2 Canis Majoris to the west—all three figure in the same field in binoculars.[6]
The cluster covers an area about the size of the full Moon.[6] It contains about 100 stars, including several red giants the brightest of which has spectral type K3, apparent magnitude 6.3 and is near the center, and some white dwarfs.[7][8][9] The cluster is estimated to be moving away from us at 23.3 km/s.[1] The diameter of the cluster is 25–26 light-years (7.7–8.0 pc). It is estimated to be 190 million years old, and cluster properties and dynamics suggest a total life expectancy of 500 million years for this cluster, before it will have disintegrated.[3]
Walter Scott Houston describes the appearance of the cluster in small telescopes:[10]
Many visual observers speak of seeing curved lines of stars in M41. Although they seem inconspicuous on photographs, the curves stand out strongly in my 10-inch [reflecting telescope], and the bright red star near the center of the cluster is prominent.
The bright red/orange star near the center is HIP 32406, a giant star of spectral type K2, about 1500 ly away of magnitude 6.9.