M41
Little Beehive Cluster
Propriétés
Position et Identifiants
Visibilité
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À propos de M41
Description
M41 is a bright, large open cluster in Canis Major, about 2,300 light-years from Earth. It contains roughly 100 stars spread across about 26 light-years, with an age of 190-240 million years. The cluster is dominated by a striking orange K3 giant star near its center, which contrasts beautifully with the surrounding blue-white members.
Conseils d'Observation
Located about 4 degrees due south of Sirius, the brightest star in the sky — making M41 very easy to find. Visible to the naked eye from dark sites as a hazy patch. Binoculars reveal a large, bright cluster with the prominent orange central star. A telescope at 30-50x frames the cluster nicely, showing chains and arcs of stars around the bright orange giant. Sits low for northern observers. Best observed from January through March.
Histoire
Possibly recorded by Aristotle around 325 BC as a hazy spot south of Sirius. Giovanni Battista Hodierna observed it before 1654. Charles Messier cataloged it on January 16, 1765.
Faits Amusants
If Aristotle's record is genuine, M41 and M39 may be among the oldest deep-sky observations in history. The orange giant at the center of M41 is about 700 times more luminous than the Sun. The cluster's position just 4 degrees south of Sirius makes it one of the easiest Messier objects to find, yet it is often overlooked.
Photos de la Communauté (1)
Credit: Chuck Ayoub. License: CC0. (Wikimedia Commons)
Skybred Feb 28, 2026