M41

From South Dublin Astronomical Society

M41
Type	Open Cluster
NGC	NGC 2287
Constellation	Canis Major
Right Ascension	6h 46m
Declination	-20° 44'
Magnitude	4.5
Size	38 arc min.
Image:M41 messier image.jpg

Diamond-like Sirius shines bright during February evenings, sparks of many hues as it shimmers low above the southern skyline. But how many are aware of another gem — one of the deep-sky — that lies within the same binocular field as the Dog Star? M41 is a beautiful galactic cluster found 4° almost due south of Sirius and any power binocular shows a sprinkling of stellar diamond dust. Push the magnification a little higher and you’ll see a little more of the group’s estimated 150 or so members resolved. The stars appear to be arranged in some rather nice lines and chains but see if you can tease out other patterns. The cluster’s integrated magnitude is 4·5 which means that it is possible to glimpse M41 with the naked eye from a dark site but it’s low altitude may defeat your initial atttempts. It was actually recorded as early as the fourth century BC by Aristotle when he noted it as a “star with a tail”.