Posted on 01/29/2024 12:52:29 PM PST by MtnClimber
Explanation: The well-known Pleiades star cluster is slowly destroying part of a passing cloud of gas and dust. The Pleiades is the brightest open cluster of stars on Earth's sky and can be seen from almost any northerly location with the unaided eye. Over the past 100,000 years, a field of gas and dust is moving by chance right through the Pleiades star cluster and is causing a strong reaction between the stars and dust. The passing cloud might be part of the Radcliffe wave, a newly discovered structure of gas and dust connecting several regions of star formation in the nearby part of our Milky Way galaxy. Pressure from the stars' light significantly repels the dust in the surrounding blue reflection nebula, with smaller dust particles being repelled more strongly. A short-term result is that parts of the dust cloud have become filamentary and stratified. The featured deep image incorporates nearly 9 hours of exposure and was captured from Utah Desert Remote Observatory in Utah, USA, last year.
For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.
I keep trying to see the Pleiades at night from my backyard. I know how to find it but one of my neighbors, or two actually, have strung up lights in their backyards and making it hard to see the night sky. I have waited all summer to see the Pleiades and I read it is visible in Jan and Feb.
So I go back online trying to see where to look in the night sky and what times are best and I see Oct was the best month to see them.
Anyone know when, where and what time? I’m in Phoenix.
Depending where you are in the U.S., about 30 minutes after sunset the Pleiades will be near zenith or straight up. You will see a very bright object close by, which is the Planet Jupiter which is located just west and south of the Pleiades.
In Phoenix, just look close to zenith after sunset. Wait until and totally dark then check it out.
Side note, Orion's head is Betelgeuse (say that 3 times fast NO DON'T)
Wow, beautiful.
But that's why Toyotas exist.
The later ones are all-wheel drive with no 4-Wheel Low and less clearance.
Gotta appease the soccer moms!
One of my favorite night sky objects.
Once you’re able to spot it, try to use binoculars if you have them, they will look like a miniature “Big Dipper”. It’s really tight and compact, but bright. You should be able to see them, good luck!
Looks like an angel.
5.56mm
In Florida and Pleiades is directly overhead. So it should be directly overhead in AZ at 8 pm local as well. I measured using my hand width with fingers together from thumb to little finger with arm fully outstretched ..... and Pleiades is two hand widths ENE from Jupiter which is the brightest thing right now except for the moon. A line through the three stars of Orion’s belt point almost right at Pleiades which is three hand widths away to the West. Pleiades is pretty faint, but clearly a star cluster.
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