M 38 is one of three bright open clusters in Auriga (the
others are M 36 and M 37); it is the dimmest of the three,
and requires a very dark sky and very good eyesight to be
seen with the unaided eye. M 38 is 4200 light years from earth,
and is about 220 million years old. Notice the red emission
nebula at the left edge of the picture.

Image data:
Camera: Canon 350 XT (modified)
Exposure: ISO 800, 1 minute x 62
Telescope: 10" Schmidt-Newtonian, Baader coma corrector, IDAS LPS filter