Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Taurus (Tau)  ·  Contains:  16 Tau  ·  17 Tau  ·  18 Tau  ·  19 Tau)  ·  19 q Tau  ·  20 Tau  ·  23 Tau  ·  25 Tau)  ·  25 eta Tau  ·  26 Tau  ·  28 Tau  ·  Alcyone  ·  Asterope  ·  Atlas  ·  Barnard's Merope Nebula  ·  Electra  ·  HD23061  ·  HD23155  ·  HD23156  ·  HD23157  ·  HD23158  ·  HD23170  ·  HD23171  ·  HD23194  ·  HD23246  ·  HD23247  ·  HD23289  ·  HD23326  ·  HD23351  ·  HD23361  ·  And 85 more.
The Pleiades Star Cluster M45, Tom Wildoner
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The Pleiades Star Cluster M45

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Description

M45 - The Pleiades Star Cluster also referred to as the Seven Sisters in the constellation Taurus. This probably the most famous star cluster in the heavens. They have been referenced as far back as the 3rd century BC in poems. In Greek myth they were half-sisters of the Hyades, and were saved by Zeus from the pursuit of the giant Orion, by being transformed into a group of celestial doves (ref Burnham's Celestial Handbook Volume III).

PHOTO DETAILS: photographed on December 31, 2013 under good conditions and includes 30 x 60 second exposures using a Canon T4i and Canon EF400mm f/5.6L USM lens at ISO 800. The cluster was tracked using a ZEQ25GT mount from iOptron. Diffraction spikes were added by placing a cross of fishing line across the front of the lens. Photo's were stacked in ImagesPlus and final editing done in Corel PaintshopPro X6 and X5.

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The Pleiades Star Cluster M45, Tom Wildoner