Fact Sheet
Dog Stars
Dozens of stars sparkle in M41, a star cluster in the constellation Canis Major, the big dog. The cluster includes several old, bloated stars known as red giants, which shine bright orange. The cluster is about 2,300 light-years away. Under very dark skies, it is visible to the unaided eye as a faint smudge of light. [NOAO/AURA/NSF]
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