Although it's quite unusual to find open clusters so far from the plain
of the galactic disc, there is one open cluster in Canes - Upgren
1 . Phil Harrington in
"Touring
the Universe Through Binoculars" directs the attention to a
bright grouping of ten or so stars found five
degrees southwest of alpha. At a distance of only 380 light
years, Upgren 1 is one of the most ancient clusters known. Over
the last 3 billion years, Upgren 1's retinue of stars has slowly
dwindled to its present state - the rest being cast off throughout the
years. Upgren 1 was first identified by Rubin and Upgren in 1965.
