Open Cluster M36 (also known as Messier Object 36, Messier 36, M36, or NGC 1960) is an open cluster in the Auriga constellation. It was discovered by Giovanni Batista Hodierna before 1654. M36 is at a distance of about 4,100 light years away from Earth and is about 14 light years across. There are at least sixty members in the cluster. The cluster is very similar to the Pleiades cluster (M45), and if it were the same distance from Earth it would be of similar magnitude.
With an estimated age of 25 million years, Messier 36 is relatively young and does not have any red giant stars. The brightest confirmed members are of apparent magnitude 9 and have the stellar classification B2. The brightest star in M36 is about 360 times more luminous than the Sun.
The cluster is classified as Trumpler type I,3,m, which means that it is detached with strong central concentration, composed of both bright and faint stars, and medium rich, with 50 to 100 members.
Messier 36 is one of the three bright star clusters in Auriga recorded by Messier. Like the other two – Messier 37 and Messier 38 – M36 is located in the southern part of the constellation. It is the smallest and least populated of the three clusters.
--Wikipedia
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Messier36 - WikipediaMessier36 - Astropixels.comMessier36 - SEDSThis is image #28 in long term project to photograph the complete Messier catalog. Again not most spectacular object but pleased with outcome, 3 subs 300 seconds RGB.
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