Open Cluster M41
An easy target for binoculars and small telescopes is the open cluster M41 in Canis Major (The Great Dog), located just south of the bright Sirius. In binoculars it appears like a fuzzy patch, and small to moderate telescopes at low power will resolve it into a diverse and brilliant grouping of stars, some of which are quite faint.
To find M41, locate Sirius to the east of Orion by imagining a line continuing out from the three belt stars toward the left (east) until it crosses the brightest star in that area (Sirius is actually the brightest star in the entire sky). Using this chart, find M41 below Sirius, keeping in mind that it will be relatively dim and appear somewhat out of focus at first. Higher power will reveal more detail and resolve individual stars.
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Join Standley Lake Stargazing for “Science & Cinema: Interstellar (Part 2)” Wed. April 7 @ 6:00 PM (Mountain Time) for a discussion of the science portrayed in Christopher Nolan’s space epic! Email register@standleylakestargazing.com to sign up. (Reminder - no program March 31!)
Stay well, and clear skies!