* 23 Tau
Be* — SIMBAD verified
23 Tauri, also known as Merope, is a bright B-type subgiant star and a prominent member of the Pleiades open cluster. This hot, luminous blue star is famously enveloped by the diffuse Merope Nebula, a reflective gas cloud illuminated by the star's intense ultraviolet radiation.
Key Facts
RA (J2000)
3h 46m 19.6s
Dec (J2000)
+23° 56′ 54″
Visual Magnitude
4.18
Best Season
Winter (Dec–Feb)
How to Find It
Locate the Pleiades cluster in the constellation Taurus by looking near the V-shaped Hyades cluster; Merope is the southernmost bright star in the central dipper-shaped asterism of the group.
Observing Tip
To detect the subtle nebulosity surrounding the star, use a low-magnification eyepiece under a dark sky and employ the averted vision technique to maximize retinal sensitivity to faint light.