The Pleiades
Meet Messier 45: a nearby open star cluster whose bright blue stars have shaped calendars, navigation, and human imagination.
What is the cluster?
The Pleiades are a group of young stars traveling through space together. They lie in the constellation Taurus and are among the most recognizable objects in the night sky. Their hazy appearance comes partly from reflection nebulosity—dust illuminated by hot, luminous stars.
Why do we see seven?
Visibility varies by eyesight, darkness, atmosphere, and observing experience. Some observers see six bright points; others identify seven or more. The traditional number seven remains culturally powerful even when the naked-eye count differs.
How to find them
Look for a compact, miniature-dipper-shaped patch in Taurus during the cooler months of the Northern Hemisphere. Dark skies and a few minutes of eye adaptation make the cluster much easier to appreciate.
Named stars
Alcyone
The brightest apparent member of the cluster.
Maia
A bright blue giant associated with one of the Seven Sisters.
Electra
A prominent hot star within the cluster.
Taygeta, Merope, Celaeno & Sterope
Other names carried from the Greek mythic family into astronomy.