Pleiades

[Michael Steen]

Though I've read about astronomy for years, I only got my first good binoculars a couple of years ago, and my first good scope a couple of weeks ago.
For years I had seen, when letting the dogs out at night, a slightly fuzzy patch of stars in the winter sky, and I'd wondered what it was. The first night with the binoculars I gazed skyward and was just blown away by the brilliance and beauty of this star cluster!
Every time we have guests come over during the colder months, I take them outside with the binos and say, "Just have a look." They too are left stunned with how pretty this open cluster is.
I'm sure that as this year wears on and I get more used to my telescope, I'm going to find many wonders that are stunning, but to me the Pleiades will always be the one that "woke me up."

[bigastronomy]

take a picture of it with your scope next time for about 5 minutes or longer. i'm pretty sure (i didn't take notes on that night) that is what i was aiming at when i got my first nebula.

bigjeffsastrophotography.webs.com/apps/photos/album.jsp?albumID=2099805

i am by no means a pro at astrophotography yet though as you can tell. i have to figure out my alignment and tracking to eliminate the star trail.

[admin]

Michael, you must see it more wonderfully in your dobson scope. How does it look in it?

Bigastronomy I tried to see your pics however the freewebs site was not loading at all.

Feel free to upload and post your photos here:
Login - Astronomy Photos Pictures

Carlos must have some comments on this one

[admin]

The Pleaides Video
(note I did not make this myself check the link for more)

YouTube - THE PLEIADES - Astronomy

[GrandPrixChris]

That is a great video. On clear mornings (including this morning) I like to look at this cluster through my binocs, just before I have to drive in to work. I've been catching it just after 5 AM EST almost straight overhead (MI). I just can't seem to get enough of looking at it and the Orion Nebula before I go to work.
I have to say in just a few days, I have really learned a great deal on this forum. Keep this great suff coming!

[frobins]

I too have been enjoying the Pleiades. Every time I go out I make sure to spend a little time there. I learned an interesting fact when I took my kids to the planetarium the other day. The instructor told that in Japan they call it Subaru, yes just like the car. If you look at there logo it shows the six most visable stars of the Pleiades. They used the name because their was originally five companies that merged into one. Now everytime I see a Subaru driving down the road I think of the Pleiades.

[RussL]

If you like the Pleiades, you would also like the cluster around Mirfak (Alpha Persei) in binos.

Also, Brochi's Cluster (the Coathanger). It's above Aquila kinda towards Albireo.

Later, in March, check out the Coma Star Cluster (Melotte 111) in Coma Berenices. It's huge, and bright. You can see it all only in binos.

--Dawg, the Russell

[DizzyGazer]

The Pleiades are one of my favorites, as well. Having only some lower quality bino's (they are 10x50's though), my targets so far have been limited only to a couple planets (Jupiter, Venus), what I can gaze at in Orion, and the Pleiades, which I have to say are my favorite over the others at the moment. The Pleiades are sure to be the first or second target I point my first scope at..and with a star-diagonal on the scope I can just sit and watch them for as long as I like...

Russ: I made note of those other targets, and will be sure to see if I can find them if we ever get a night when there are no clouds..(which is rare the next few months...)

Mike

[n2thebluec]

Hi Guys,
A few days ago I was having a chat with one of my co-workers. He knows I'm interested in astronomy so to keep the chat going he started telling me about looking at the stars the night before and seeing the Little Dipper. Well, I know where he lives and I know there's a ton of light pollution to the north of his house and there was no way he was seeing Ursa Minor. So I asked him where was he looking and he said back to the east a bit.
I knew instantly he had to have seen the Pleiades! So with great pleasure I informed him of what he had actually seen including the common name The Seven Sisters and the fact that several of the stars were surrounded by nebulae.
One of the reasons I like the Pleiades so much is because I know Orion is close behind!
Regards,
Bruce

[star drop]

Many people mistake the Pleiades for one of the dippers. My mother used to come into the house and say that I should go out and look at the big dipper in the East. The Pleiades are my favorite open cluster.