It should remain identifiable for at least million years, however, so we need be in no hurry to observe it before it merges into the general background. Although there are only six stars easily distinguishable with the naked eye by people of average sight, the cluster has traditionally been known as the Seven Sisters.
The main cluster is about 12 lightyears in diameter and contains around stars. The total mass contained is estimated to be about times that of the Sun. Hot bluish-white stars are dominant. There are several white dwarfs, and there is obviously nebulosity, which is brightest in the region of the star Merope. The nebula is not particularly elusive — I saw it easily with my five-inch 12cm refractor — and it is a favourite target for astrophotographers see our gallery below.
Rather naturally, it was assumed to have been formed at the same time as the Pleiades themselves — but this cannot be so. The cluster is of the order of million years old, and a reflection nebulae of this kind would long since have been dissipated. In fact, the explanation is that the stars are simply passing through a dust cloud which happens to lie in their path. First look for the very familiar constellation of Orion with its two leaders, the orange-red Betelgeuse and the even brighter white Rigel.
By using the Pleiades as a guinea pig, the astronomers gave Kepler a new ability, expanding its search for exoplanets to include brighter stars as well as dim ones. Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community space. Image 1 of 5. Image 2 of 5. Image 3 of 5. Image 4 of 5. By: Diana Hannikainen November 11, By: Bob King November 10, By: Camille M.
Carlisle November 9, By: Alan MacRobert November 5, Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson. By: David Dickinson November 4, Stellar Science. By: Jure Japelj November 3, By: Monica Young November 3, Constant Contact Use. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact.
Tags Brightest stars Pleiades. Comments Manw November 9, at pm Hi there Does anyone know exactly which night the Pleiades reach their zenith point?
With a pair of binoculars or a telescope, you will see many more stars in the cluster. On top of being an open star cluster, the Pleiades star cluster also contains striking blue reflection nebulae. The dusty cosmic cloud surrounding the Pleiades, and associated blue reflection nebula can be enjoyed through long-exposure astrophotography.
The image above was created by capturing 25 x 3. To capture an image that highlights the faint, glowing dust that surrounds the Seven Sisters star cluster, dark skies that are well away from city light pollution are required. Below, is a wide-field view of the Pleiades using a mm camera lens.
The image above showcases the Pleiades in a 7-degree wide field of view. November is often called the month of the Pleiades. At this time of year, the Pleiades shine from dusk until dawn. The Pleiades star cluster can be seen to the right of the constellation Orion. For many people, this star cluster is one of the first deep sky objects ever observed with their naked eye.
A wide field of view from a pair of binoculars or a low power telescope will ensure that the entire cluster can be seen at the same time. Few star clusters can deliver the excitement and awe that Messier 45 does through the eyepiece of a telescope. For a truly remarkable way to enjoy this object, consider attaching a camera to your telescope.
A photograph of the Pleiades star cluster looks great at any focal length, from a wide-angle nightscape to a high magnification deep sky image. Whether you are using a camera lens, or a telescope, to effectively capture the faint, dusty details of the associated reflection nebula, a star tracker must be used to allow for long exposure imaging.
0コメント