Messier 36 (M36), also called the Pinwheel Cluster, is a young open star cluster in the constellation Auriga. It lies about 4,100 light-years away and contains roughly 60 member stars. Discovered before 1654 by Giovanni Battista Hodierna, it shines at an apparent magnitude of 6.3 and is visible with binoculars.
Constellation: Auriga Distance: ~4,100 light-years (1,330 parsecs)Apparent Magnitude: 6.3Actual Size: ~14 light-years acrossAge: ~25 million years Designations: M36, NGC 1960
Stellar Population: Mostly young, hot blue-white stars of spectral class B. It lacks gas and dust (nebulosity): It shares a strong physical resemblance to the Pleiades cluster (M45); if M36 were as close as the Pleiades, it would look just as bright. Neighbors: M36 is part of a trio of bright open clusters in Auriga, alongside Messier 37 and Messier 38
Best Time to View: Winter months in the Northern Hemisphere.Equipment: Easy to spot with binoculars or a small telescope as a small, bright patch of clustered stars. Image Credit Chuck Ayoub
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