The Pleiades

Designation: M45 / NGC 1435
Hemisphere: Northern
Constellation: Taurus
Distance: 440 light years
Object type: Open cluster / Reflection nebula

Description

The Pleiades is an open cluster (a group of stars formed from the same cloud of gas and dust) located approx. 440 light years from Earth, in the constellation Taurus. It contains over three thousand stars (mostly hot B-type stars) although only the seven largest stars are visible to the naked eye due to the effects of light pollution. For this reason, the cluster is also called “the Seven Sisters”.

The blue nebulosity is not directly associated to the star cluster, but it rather seems that the latter is passing through a particularly dusty region that reflects the light from the stars.

In Greek mythology, the Pleiades were the seven daughters of Atlas, a Titan who held up the sky, and the oceanid Pleione, protectress of sailing. The sisters were Maia, Electra, Alcyone, Taygete, Asterope, Celaeno and Merope. Read the full article here.

Equipment

Mount: ZWO AM5
Main Telescope: William Optics RedCat 51
Main camera: ZWO ASI294MC-Pro
Main camera filter: Optolong L-Pro
Guidescope: William Optics Uniguide 32
Guide camera: ZWO ASI220MM Mini

Acquisition details

Total integration time: 12 hours
Acquisition: ZWO AsiAir Plus
Processing: PixInsight
Location: Luxembourg