Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Taurus (Tau)  ·  Contains:  Maia nebula  ·  Merope nebula  ·  NGC 1432  ·  NGC 1435  ·  The star 18Tau  ·  The star Atlas (27Tau)  ·  The star Celaeno (16Tau)  ·  The star Electra (17Tau)  ·  The star Merope (23Tau)  ·  The star Pleione (28Tau)  ·  The star Sterope I (21Tau)  ·  The star Taygeta (19Tau)  ·  The star ηTau
The Pleiades, Bruce
The Pleiades
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The Pleiades, Bruce
The Pleiades
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Description

During the cold winter months stargazers in the northern hemisphere are treated to a beautiful open star cluster called The Pleiades. It is also known as the Seven Sisters and Maia Nebula while its official designations are M45 and Melotte 22. This beautiful cluster is not reserved only for star gazers in the northern latitudes as it is visible as far south as the southern tip of South America.

Hot blue stars formed within the last 100 million years dominate this cluster. Astronomers estimate that in about 250 million years tidal interactions will tear it apart and during that time its normal direction of movement will have carried it from the constellation Taurus into neighboring Orion.

This bright star cluster has been mentioned in the literature of most cultures and therefore has many names – the Starry Seven, the Net of Stars, the Seven Virgins, the Daughters of Pleione, the Stars of Athyr and the Little Eyes just to name a few.

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The Pleiades, Bruce