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Credit & Copyright: Robert Gendler
Explanation:
Perhaps the most famous star cluster on the sky, the
Pleiades
can be seen without binoculars from even the depths of a
light-polluted city.
Also known as the Seven Sisters and
M45,
the Pleiades
is one of the brightest and closest
open clusters.
The Pleiades
contains over 3000 stars, is about 400 light years away,
and only 13 light years across.
Quite evident in the
above
photograph are the blue reflection nebulae
that surround the brighter cluster
stars.
Low mass, faint, brown dwarfs have also
been found in
the
Pleiades.
(Editors' note: The prominent
diffraction spikes are caused by the telescope itself
and may be either distracting or provide aesthetic enhancement, depending on your
point of view.)
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: M 45 - pleiades - open cluster
Publications with words: M 45 - pleiades - open cluster
See also:
- APOD: 2024 December 9 Á Pleiades: The Seven Sisters Star Cluster
- APOD: 2024 October 29 Á NGC 602: Stars Versus Pillars from Webb
- APOD: 2024 September 29 Á Seven Dusty Sisters
- APOD: 2024 September 3 Á Quarter Moon and Sister Stars
- NGC 7789: Caroline s Rose
- APOD: 2024 July 2 Á NGC 602: Oyster Star Cluster
- The 37 Cluster