wide field astrophotography
Located about 444 light years from Earth, Messier 45 (aka M45, The Pleiades, The Seven Sisters) is an asterism and open star cluster in the constellation Taurus. Reflection nebulae around hot blue luminous star gives the Pleiades its somewhat eerie and spectacular glow
Nikon D750 | WO Zenithstar 61ii 360mm | 63 min exposure | 2023-01-14
According to Greek mythology the Pleiades were the seven sister-nymph companions of Artemis, the goddess of the hunt. The sisters were translated to the night sky by the ancients as a cluster of the stars Maia, Electra, Taygete, Alcyone, Celaeno, Sterope, Merope.
This image of M45 includes asteroid 175 Andromache near the top centre of the frame. This carbon rich asteroid is estimated to be roughly 105 km in diameter.
annotated image identifies stars and nebulae
