The Pleiades

This bright star cluster is visible in the northern hemisphere.

Tuesday, February 20, 2007 15:29

The Pleiades (Messier 45) consists of bright stars formed at the same time 100 million years ago. The cluster contains hundreds of stars, but only a few are visible to the naked eye.

Interstellar dust that reflects the blue light from the stars is represented by a blue haze.

The cluster is also known as the Seven Sisters and is part of the constellation Taurus. The brightest stars are Alcyone, Atlas, Electra, Maia, and Merope.

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News from Space is a short factual tidbit dealing with the latest information from space and Earth-based telescopes and satellites, as well as the occasional happening at NASA, the CSA, or some of the world's other space agencies. Check out cool images from the Hubble, the Spitzer, the Chandra, or from the many great observatories around the planet. 
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