Messier 38 (M38), also called the Starfish Cluster, is an open star cluster located in the constellation Auriga.
Object Type: Open star cluster Other Designations: NGC 1912, Starfish Cluster Constellation: Auriga Distance: About 3,500 to 4,200 light-years from Earth Apparent Magnitude: 7.4 Age: Around 220 to 250 million years Size: Roughly 25 light-years across
Appearance and Shape The cluster contains about 100 stars. Its brightest stars form an unusual pattern that looks like an oblique cross, the Greek letter Pi (π), or a starfish when photographed.
Location and Viewing M38 sits in the northern sky inside the constellation Auriga.It is part of a trio of famous open clusters in the area, alongside M36 and M37. You can spot M38 using binoculars or a small telescope, best viewed during the winter months. A smaller, unrelated cluster named NGC 1907 lies nearby in the night sky, making a nice pair for wide-field telescopic viewing. Image Credit: NASA, ESA
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