![The Pleiades, also known as Seven Sisters and Messier 45 (M45), is an asterism of an open star cluster containing young B-type stars in the northwest of the constellation Taurus. At a distance of about 444 light-years, it is among the star clusters nearest to Earth and is the Messier object nearest to Earth, being the star cluster most obvious to the naked eye in the night sky. It contains over 1,000 stars, with the brightest six or seven being easily visible to the naked eye.
The Pleiades cluster contains the reflection nebulae NGC 1432, an HII region,[12] and NGC 1435, known as the Merope Nebula. Around 2330 BC the Pleiades marked the vernal point. Due to the brightness of its stars, the Pleiades is viewable from most areas on Earth, even in locations with significant light pollution.[13]
After Atlas was forced to carry the heavens on his shoulders, Orion began to pursue all of the Pleiades, and Zeus transformed them first into doves, and then into stars to comfort their father. The constellation of Orion is said to still pursue them across the night sky.
One of the most memorable myths involving the Pleiades is the story of how these sisters literally became stars, their catasterism. According to some versions of the tale, all seven sisters killed themselves because they were so saddened by either the fate of their father, Atlas, or the loss of their siblings, the Hyades. In turn, Zeus, the ruler of the Greek gods, immortalized the sisters by placing them in the sky. There these seven stars formed the star cluster known thereafter as the Pleiades.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:jezoyitv3etobv53g7osgdp4/bafkreigcxray72k53j5vxzxqkoj4226pvsra3xpqxmhtubz2hdilnlpihi)
Chris Lemin
@chrislemin.bsky.social
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Ex Soldier, Firefigher, Teacher and most recently Plumber. Now just taking the slow way round. Interested in climate campaigning, space/science nerd, rugby, cricket, music, playing ukulele down the pub, making things. Glad to meet you here.
![IC 5146 (also Caldwell 19, Sh 2-125, Barnard 168, and the Cocoon Nebula) is a reflection[2]/emission[3] nebula and Caldwell object in the constellation Cygnus. The NGC description refers to IC 5146 as a cluster of 9.5 mag stars involved in a bright and dark nebula. The cluster is also known as Collinder 470.[4] It shines at magnitude +10.0[5]/+9.3[3]/+7.2.[6] Its celestial coordinates are RA 21h 53.5m , dec +47° 16′. It is located near the naked-eye star Pi Cygni, the open cluster NGC 7209 in Lacerta, and the bright open cluster M39.[2][5] The cluster is about 4,000 ly away, and the central star that lights it formed about 100,000 years ago;[7] the nebula is about 12 arcmins across, which is equivalent to a span of 15 light years.[6]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:jezoyitv3etobv53g7osgdp4/bafkreibqurd2fon7hkpbpdxse4eivu362bsuhhevdd5i5zeovju4fwkkbi)
![The Dumbbell Nebula (also known as the Apple Core Nebula, Messier 27, and NGC 6853) is a planetary nebula (nebulosity surrounding a white dwarf) in the constellation Vulpecula, at a distance of about 1360 light-years.[1] It was the first such nebula to be discovered, by Charles Messier in 1764. At its brightness of visual magnitude 7.5 and diameter of about 8 arcminutes, it is easily visible in binoculars[4] and is a popular observing target in amateur telescopes.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:jezoyitv3etobv53g7osgdp4/bafkreid43kaywgmf35w3q3hi7j7d6nwxcwqs46o3ytbp2upo3rdz5rwoiu)
