Messier 36

Discovered by Giovanni Batista Hodierna before 1654.
Independently rediscovered by Le Gentil in 1749.

Messier: M36.

September 2, 1764. 36. 5h 20m 47s (80d 11' 42") +34d 08' 06"
Cluster of stars in Auriga, near the star Phi: with an ordinary telescope of 3.5 foot [FL] one has pain to distinguish the stars, the cluster contains no nebulosity. Its position determined from Phi [Aurigae]. (diam. 9')

[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.

Bode: Bode 12.

A cluster of small stars.

Koehler: Koehler No. 10

Between x and w (according to Doppelm[ayer]) of Auriga.

Caroline Herschel

October 13, 1782. Observed "a nebula below Phi Aurigae." This may be M36, M37, or M38.

William Herschel:

[Unpublished Observations of Messier's Nebulae and Clusters. Scientific Papers, Vol. 2, p. 653]
1794, Oct. 28. 7 feet reflector. With 120, a pretty rich cluster of small [faint] stars, seems to have many more than are visible, very small [faint].

John Herschel (1833): h 358.

h 358 = M36.
Sweep 42 (January 5, 1827)
RA 5h 24m 56.5s, NPD 55d 57' 52" (1830.0) [Right Ascension and North Polar Distance]
A coarse straggling cl which fills the field; a v pretty object; place B * in M.
A coarse straggling cluster which fills the field; a very pretty object; the place is that of a bright star in the middle [of the cluster].

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.

Smyth: CCXIV [214]. M36.

CCXIV. 36 M. Aurigae.
AR 5h 25m 44s, Dec N 34d 01'.9
Mean Epoch of Observation: 1836.71 [September 1836]
Position 308d.7 (w 5), Distance 12".0 (w 1)
A neat double star in a splendid cluster, on the robe below the Waggoner's left thigh, and near the centre of the Galaxy stream. A [mag] 8 and B 9, both white; in a rich though open splash of stars from the 8th to the 14th magnitudes, with numerous outliers, like the device of a star whose rays are formed by very small stars. This object was registered by M. [Messier] in 1764; and the double star, as H. [John Herschel] remarks, is admirably placed, for future astronomers to ascertain whether there be internal motion in clusters. A line carried from the central star in Orion's belt, through Zeta Tauri, and continued about 13deg beyond, will reach the cluster, following Phi Aurigae by about two degrees.

John Herschel, General Catalogue: GC 1166.

GC 1166 = h 358 = M36.
RA 5h 27m 3.1s, NPD 55d 57' 28.2" (1860.0) [Right Ascension and North Polar Distance]
Cl; B; vL; vRi; lC; st 9...11 sc 9 observations by W. & J. Herschel.
Cluster; bright; very large; very rich; little compressed; stars from 9th to 11th magnitude scattered.

Dreyer: NGC 1960.

NGC 1960 = GC 1166 = h 358; Legentil, M 36.
RA 5h 27m 3s, NPD 55d 57.5' (1860.0) [Right Ascension and North Polar Distance]
Cl, B, vL, vRi, lC, st 9...11 sc; = M36
Cluster, bright, very large, very rich, little compressed, stars from 9th to 11th magnitude scattered.