Plejaden

The Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters or M45, is an open star cluster containing middle-aged, hot B-type stars located in the constellation of Taurus. It is among the nearest star clusters to Earth and is the cluster most obvious to the naked eye in the night sky. The cluster is dominated by hot blue and extremely luminous stars that have formed within the last 100 million years. Dust that forms a faint reflection nebulosity around the brightest stars was thought at first to be left over from the formation of the cluster (hence the alternative name Maia Nebula after the star Maia), but is now known to be an unrelated dust cloud in the interstellar medium, through which the stars are currently passing. Computer simulations have shown that the Pleiades was probably formed from a compact configuration that resembled the Orion Nebula. 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. The Pleiades are easily seen with the naked eye and are a popular target for amateur astronomers. The cluster is also notable for its reflection nebulosity, which is caused by the light of the stars reflecting off the surrounding dust. The Pleiades have been known since antiquity and have been featured in various cultures and mythologies throughout history. The cluster is located in the constellation of Taurus, which is one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy. The Pleiades are located about 444 light-years away from Earth and have an apparent magnitude of 1.6. The cluster is composed of over 1,000 stars, with the brightest being Alcyone, which is a binary star system. The Pleiades are a popular target for astrophotography and have been featured in numerous images and videos. The cluster is also a popular target for amateur astronomers, who enjoy observing its bright stars and reflection nebulosity. The Pleiades are a fascinating object in the night sky and have been the subject of much study and observation by astronomers throughout history.