Messier 38 (M 38, NGC 1912 or Starfish Cluster) is open star cluster in constellation Auriga along with the open star clusters M36 and M37. At a estimated distance of 4200 light years from our solar system, this 220 million year old group of stars spreads itself across about 25 light years of space. Two other open clusters are visibly near M 38: NGC 1907 (Hershel H39-7) and Czernik21 (see mouseover). Anil K. Pandey (et al) explained in their 2006 study "Stellar Contents of Two Intermediate Age Clusters: NGC 1912 and NGC 1907":"The stellar surface density profiles indicate that the radii of the clusters NGC 1912 and NGC 1907 are 14' and 6' respectively. The core of the cluster NGC 1907 is found to be 1'.6±0'.3, whereas the core of the cluster NGC 1912 could not be defined due to its significant variation with the limiting magnitude. The clusters are situated at distances of 1400±100 pc (NGC 1912) and 1760±100 pc (NGC 1907), indicating that in spite of their close locations on the sky they may be formed in different parts of the Galaxy." Right from M38 can be spotted a tiny purple planetary nebula Abell 9. Recently this open clusters has been studied from IRIDA staff in search for potential Hα emission candidates. The results will be published soon.