M38

Messier 38, also known as the Starfish Cluster, is a beautiful open star cluster located in the constellation Auriga, approximately 3,500 light-years from Earth. Its distinctive pattern of bright stars forms an irregular cross-like shape, often compared to a starfish. Spanning about 25 light-years, M38 contains hundreds of stars that formed together from the same vast cloud of gas and dust around 300 million years ago. Surrounded by the rich star fields of the Milky Way, M38 offers a striking glimpse into the structure and diversity of our own galaxy.