Discovered by Giovanni Batista Hodierna before 1654.
Independently rediscovered by Le Gentil in 1749.
[Mem. Acad. for 1771, p. 449 (first Messier catalog)]
In the night of September 2 to 3, 1764, I have determined the position of a
star cluster in Auriga, near the star Phi of that constellation. With an
ordinary [non-achromatic] refractor of 3 feet & a half, one has
difficulty to distinguish these small stars; but when employing a stronger
instrument, one sees them very well; they don't contain between them any
nebulosity: their extension is about 9 minutes of arc. I have compared the
middle of this cluster with the star Phi Aurigae, & I have determined
its position; its right ascension was 80d 11' 42", & its declination
34d 8' 6" north.
[p. 457]
1764.Sep. 2. RA: 80.11.42, Dec: 34. 8. 6.B, Diam: 0. 9.
Cluster of stars in Auriga, near the star Phi of that constellaiton: they are
not mixed with any nebulosity.
Sweep 51 (January 22, 1827)
RA 5h 24m 65.5s, NPD 55d 59' 24" (1830.0)
Rich; B; straggling stars; place of a D * h 368 whose place in my 2nd Catal
is set down very erroneously by a mistake of copying.
Rich; bright; straggling stars; place of a double star, h 368, whose place in
my 2nd Catalogue is set down very erroneously by a mistake of copying.
Sweep 105 (November, 1827)
RA 5h 24m 70.4s, NPD 55d 59' 16" (1830.0)
A considerably rich cl of L st 9...11 m; fills the field. The chief * is
double.
A considerably rich cluster of large [bright] stars of 9th to 11th magnitude;
fills the field. The chief star is double.
Last Modification: March 25, 2005