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M36

Messier 36 (M36), also known as NGC 1960, is an open star cluster in the Milky Way galaxy, located in the northern constellation Auriga. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1771 and added to his catalog of fuzzy celestial objects that could be mistaken for comets. The cluster lies at a distance of about 4,100 light-years (roughly 1,260 parsecs) from Earth.

M36 is relatively young, with age estimates around 25 million years. Its stellar population includes hot, blue

In terms of observations, M36 has an apparent magnitude near 6.0, placing it near the threshold of

O-
and
B-type
stars,
alongside
a
larger
number
of
fainter
members.
The
cluster
has
a
loose
but
discernible
concentration
toward
its
core,
and
it
spans
roughly
15
to
20
light-years
in
diameter.
naked-eye
visibility
under
very
dark
skies
and
well
within
the
reach
of
small
telescopes
or
binoculars.
It
is
part
of
a
group
of
notable
open
clusters
in
Auriga,
lying
near
M37
and
M38,
and
it
is
commonly
studied
as
a
nearby
example
of
a
young
galactic
cluster.