Messier 41
| Messier 41 | |
|---|---|
Open cluster Messier 41 in Canis Major | |
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Right ascension | 06h 46.0m |
| Declination | −20° 46′ |
| Distance | 2,360 ly (725 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 4.5 |
| Apparent dimensions (V) | 38 arcmin |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Radius | 12.5 ly |
| Estimated age | 200 million yrs |
| Other designations | M41, NGC 2287 |
| Associations | |
| Constellation | Canis Major |
Messier 41 (also known as M41 or NGC 2287) is an open cluster in the constellation Canis Major. Located approximately four degrees south of Sirius, it forms a roughly equilateral triangle with Sirius and Nu2 Canis Majoris, visible together in binoculars. The cluster spans an area comparable to the size of the full moon and contains about 100 stars, including several red giants and white dwarfs.