The Pleiades Cluster
One of the great highlights of the Winter season is the prominent open cluster known as The Pleiades, comprised of seven stars named after the seven daughters of the mythical Greek figure Titan. The Pleiades is one of the brightest, largest and most distinctive clusters in the night sky and is well placed for viewing in the early evening.
Looking East at 7 PM from Denver in late December/early January
To find it, look in between Taurus and Perseus (see graphic) for a tight cluster of bright stars that to some loosely resembles the shape of the Big Dipper, but miniaturized. Observers with keen eyesight will be able to spot all seven stars, and when viewed with binoculars from a dark site some of the nebulous glow becomes visible. Through even a modest telescope at low power the surrounding nebula gains more detail and the blueish tint is more pronounced.
The Winter sky is host to several captivating clusters, we’ll cover more in the coming weeks! You can read more about The Pleiades here:
https://earthsky.org/favorite-star-patterns/pleiades-star-cluster-enjoys-worldwide-renown
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Stay well, and clear skies!