Cl Melotte 22

Cl Melotte 22

OpC

OpC — SIMBAD verified

Melotte 22, universally recognized as the Pleiades or the Seven Sisters, is one of the most prominent and beautiful open clusters in the sky. This stunning collection of young, blue B-type stars is dominated by several bright members that form a miniature dipper-like shape embedded in faint, wispy reflection nebulosity.

Key Facts

RA (J2000)

3h 46m 24.2s

Dec (J2000)

+24° 6′ 50″

Best Season

Winter (Dec–Feb)

How to Find It

Locate the constellation Taurus by tracing the V-shape of the Hyades cluster; continue your gaze to the northwest to find the unmistakable, compact knot of the Pleiades high in the sky.

Observing Tip

Use low-magnification wide-field eyepieces or binoculars to capture the entire cluster, as higher magnifications will crop out the delicate surrounding nebulosity and the wide spatial distribution of its members.

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