Messier 37 is a beautiful open cluster in Auriga.

M37 shines at magnitude 6.2. It is the largest of the three Messier clusters in Auriga at 15 arcminutes in diameter. At a distance of 4,400 light-years from Earth, its true size would be 19 light-years in diameter.

M37 is the richest open cluster in Auriga and is one of the best open clusters in the sky. It contains 150 stars brighter than magnitude 12.5 and a total membership of perhaps 500 stars, including at least 12 red giants. It is estimated to be 300 million years old.

M37 was cataloged by Giovanni Batista Hodierna in 1654. Charles Messier independently re-discovered M37 in 1764 and added the cluster to his catalog of nebulae and star clusters which he published in 1771.

North is to the top in the above image.

Messier 37 Catalogs: M37, NGC 2099 Common Name: Salt and Pepper Cluster Object Type: Open Clusters Magnitude: 5.6v Size: 15' Constellation: Auriga Image Field Centered At: RA: 05h 52m 20s Dec: +32° 33' 28"