Giovanni Hodierna discovered M38 = NGC 1912 before 1654. It was independently discovered by Le Gentil in 1749 and probably by Messier on 25 Sep 1764 (Le Gentil is not mentioned in his description). WH observed the cluster on 23 Nov 1805 with the large 10-foot reflector and recorded "A cluster of scattered, pretty large [bright] stars of various magnitudes, of an irregular figure. It is in the Milky Way."

200/250mm - 8" large, bright, rich cluster with many 10th magnitude stars, square or cruciform shape, includes a number of double stars. A number of stars are arranged in strings.

400/500mm - 18" (1/17/09): at 175x this gorgeous cluster extends 25'-30' in diameter and contains roughly 200 stars in many irregular groupings. A very pretty string of stars extends N-S out the north side. Includes a very large number of mag 10-12 stars (fairly uniform) with many of the stars group very irregularly in long chains and loops. Some of these chains outline the periphery of nearly starless voids including the unconcentrated center which contains starless patches. NGC 1907 is located 33' SSW, though the two clusters were likely born in different parts of the galaxy.

Naked-eye - (10/24/11): just glimpsed in very dark skies.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb