The “Seven Sisters”
Rising in the east this time of year (October-November) is a hazy area that upon closer examination, if you have excellent eyesight and a good clear atmosphere, is small star cluster dominated by hot, luminous, blue stars formed within the last 75 to 150 million years. That is to say, these stars are, in astronomical time, relatively “young”.
This is the Pleiades cluster otherwise known as the “Seven Sisters”. It apparently got the name because an observer in ancient times could see seven distinct stars, even without any optical aid. It is a challenge to see all seven. The Pleiades are a lovely sight in binoculars or a low power telescope.
Overall, there are over 1,000 members of the cluster, which is The observed nebulosity is due to dust, which is likely an area of dust through which the cluster is moving, rather than the dust being left over form the formation of the stars.
This image was captured through the iTelescope.net web site using the Takahashi 106mm Imaging Platform at the New Mexico Skies Observatory in Mayhill, NM.
Light, Shadow, Form, and Texture 