| Messier/type: | M37 / open cluster |
| mag/dia/dist: | 5.6 / 23' / 4,400 ly |
| constellation: | Auriga |
| date/time/place: | Feb 24, 01 / 20:30 / bangkok |
| trans'y/seeing/l-poll: | fair / fair / medium-low |
| telescope: | newtonian 4.5" f8.8 |
| eyepieces/power: | 25mm / 40x |
| sky atlas page: | 5 |
Start hopping from Bright star 'Capella' hop to stars 7, 10 & 8. Then hop to stars 15, 11 & 21; star15-->21-->points to M38. On south direction of M38 , two stars mag6 to 6.5 point to M36. For M37, return to stars 15, 11 & 21 then hop to stars 32, 29, 37 & 31. Star 32-->31-->point to M37. To locate M37, look for three stars mag6 which form as straight line, look at two stars which more closer together, M37 locates at one corner of imaginary right triangle comprise of that two stars mag6 and M37. It is the most difficult of M-objects in Auriga, I lost in space many times. At eyepiece, M37 appeared as faint, large smudge of light, elongated in north-south direction, only two-three stars can be observed.
Refer to text: 150 stars detached, max mag9.2, extend 24 ly, age 300 million years. Home