Messier 41
Star cluster in Canis Major · 2,300 light-years
🔭 Explore Messier 41 in the 3D map →View Messier 41 images →| Type | Star cluster |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Canis Major |
| Right ascension | 6h 46m 00s |
| Declination | −20° 45′ |
| Object distance | 2,300 light-years |
| Apparent magnitude | 4.5 |
| Apparent size | 12′ (arc-minutes) |
| Approx. true diameter | 8 light-years across |
| Also known as | M41 · NGC 2287 |
Messier 41 is a star cluster (also catalogued as NGC 2287) in Canis Major — a gravitationally bound family of stars sharing a common origin. It was recorded by Charles Messier in his famous catalogue of 110 deep-sky objects. It spans roughly 12 arc-minutes on the sky. At about magnitude 4.5, it is bright enough to glimpse with the unaided eye under a dark sky.
Although it appears about 12′ wide on the sky, its real span is roughly 8 light-years — the difference is a measure of how far away it lies.
Observing Messier 41
Messier 41 lies in the constellation Canis Major and is best placed in the evening sky around December. Its maximum altitude above the horizon depends on your latitude. It is best placed for observers in the southern hemisphere, and sits low for those far north. At its brightness it can be found with the unaided eye under a dark sky and is easy in binoculars.
See Messier 41 in Universe Finder
Open the interactive 3D map to fly to Messier 41 and see it in context among the real stars around it. Launch the 3D view →
Sources
- Position, magnitude and angular size from the OpenNGC catalogue (Mattia Verga).
- Object identity cross-referenced with SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg).
- Image credits and the original observation source are linked with each photograph.
Related objects
- Pleiades — star cluster
- Hercules Cluster — star cluster
- Small Sgr Star Cloud — star cluster
- Messier 25 — star cluster
- Messier 103 — star cluster