M 45  -  Pleiades

50% resolution (570kB)

Image with NP101 (f=540mm)

Object data of M45
Object type: open star cluster (I3r) with reflection nebula
Size: 110'
Magnitude: 1.6 mag
Constellation: Tau
Distance: 440 Ly
   
Notes: The Pleiades nebulae are blue-colored, which indicates that they are reflection nebulae, reflecting the light of the bright stars situated near (or within) them. Physically, the reflection nebula is probably part of the dust in a molecular cloud, unrelated to the Pleiades cluster, which happens to cross the cluster's way. It is not a remainder of the nebula from which the cluster once formed.

One can find many different catalogue entries for the reflection nebulae:

  • NGC1432, NGC1435
  • IC1990
  • vdB20, vdB22, vdB23
  • Ced19

Exposure data
Date: 2009-11-19
Location: Nussbach / Austria (400m)
Telescope: Rubinar300 (2.5" Maksutov Cassegrain f=300mm)
Camera: EOS1000D (ISO400)
Mount: Vixen GPDX
Exposure time: 42x4m
Exposure time total: 2h48m

 

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