The Pleiades (AKA Seven Sisters, Messier 45, M45) is an open star cluster with considerable nebulosity (Maia and Merope Nebulae are both located within the cluster). Located in the constellation of Taurus, it is one of the brighter night sky objects (mag. 1.6) and easily visible with the naked eye. The Pleiades holds a place in the stellar folklore of most cultures, some may recognize the constellation as the logo of the Japanese automotive brand Subaru (スバル), its namesake.

At approximately 444 light years distant, it is one of the nearest star clusters to Earth, and the nearest messier object. Easily visible with the naked eye, it has an angular size of 110 minutes, or nearly two degrees of arc. At magnitude 1.6.

The cluster is dominated by hot blue and luminous b-type stars that have formed within the last 100 million years. Astronomers estimate that the cluster will survive for about another 250 million years, after which it will disperse due to gravitational interactions with its galactic neighborhood.

This image integrates the best 40 (of over 100!) exposures taken on October 27th 2022.

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