Object:

M 45 Pleiades (Melotte 22)

Constellation:

Taurus

RA:

03h47m0.0s

DEC:

+24⁰07'00"

Magnification:

15

Filter:

None

Field:

3.0⁰

Pos. Angle:

Object Info:

M45 or the Pleaides. This big naked eye cluster lies in the constellation of Taurus. Its diameter is 2 degrees. Under my suburban skies I can detect only 6 stars with the naked eye. With 15x80 Vixen big binoculars I can detect about 60 to 70 stars. This is truly a binocular cluster! Many chains of stars are visible. There are also some beautiful double and multiple stars to be observed. The most striking is Alcyone, the bright A component accompanied by three fainter companions. I could not detect any nebulosity. The sketch to the left is not complete. I will try to enhance it (plot more stars) in a next session.

Orientation:

North is up, west is to the left