| Description | The fourth and final addition to the catalog that Messier made pre-publication: "(March 4, 1769) `A cluster of stars, known by the name of the Pleiades. The position reported is that of the star Alcyone.'" This is an obvious, naked-object known since ancient times. <--> The Pleiades was the first asterism I ever noticed, myself. Walking home at night when I was 10 or so, I saw the seven sisters formation and decided it had to be UFOs. Someone set me straight, and I learned their name, Pleiades, but I loved them still. Through a telescope they're even more wonderful because of the dramatic nebulosity that surrounds the major stars. This first observation through a telescope was at 270mm, but I have added a second observation, Dec 12, 2023, 15m30s to the gallery, taken with the Askar V at 600mm. Interestingly, the "seven" sisters has only six naked-eye objects visible. It is believed that the seventh sister was an optical binary that has shifted relative position so it is no longer visible. |
