View source for Messier Index/M36

{{ Cluster |
| name = Messier 36
| image = [[image:M36_2mass.jpg|250px]]
|caption = Open cluster M36 seen in infrared light., courtesy of: [http://www.ipac.caltech.edu/2mass/gallery/messiercat.html]
| epoch = J2000.0
| class = I
| constellation = [[w:Auriga (constellation)|Auriga]]
| ra = 5<sup>h</sup>&nbsp;36<sup>m</sup>&nbsp;12<sup>s</sup>
| dec = +34° 08&prime; 4&Prime;
| dist_ly = 4.1 [[w:light year|kly]]
| dist_pc = 1.3 [[w:parsec|kpc]]
| appmag_v = 6.3
| size_v = 12&prime;
| mass_kg = 
| mass_msol = 
| radius_ly = 14 ly
| v_hb = 
| age = 25 [[w:Julian year (astronomy)|Ma]]
| notes = 
| names = [[w:NGC 1960]] }}

'''Open Cluster M36''' (also known as '''Messier Object 36''', '''Messier 36''', '''M36''', or '''NGC 1960''') is an [[w:open cluster]] in the [[w:Auriga constellation]]. It was discovered by [[w:Giovanni Batista Hodierna]] before [[w:1654]]. M36 is at a distance of about 4,100 [[w:light year]]s away from [[w:Earth]] and is about 14 light years across. There are at least sixty members in the cluster. The cluster is very similar to the [[w:Pleiades (star cluster)|Pleiades]] cluster (M45), and if it were the same distance from Earth it would be of similar magnitude.

==External links==
* [http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m036.html Messier 36, SEDS Messier pages]

{{Messier Index}}