M45 (Mel22) Tau open cluster
The Pleiades
Difficulty level 1

Date of observation: 1996/08.13/ 03:27
Observing site: Hoshinomura
Transparency/seeing/sky darkness: 4/3/3
Instruments: 30X125 Binoculars
Width of field: 1.6�‹
This cluster is called "Subaru" in Japan and well known since ancient times. The unaided eye can easily see a cluster of 5 or 6 stars. Ten of the stars are very bright, far brighter than other stars. The bright stars form a shape of a ladle. Three faint stars close together are visible around the bright central star Alcione.
A series of stars extending to the south is visible. The star southwest of Alcione is Merope. Faint nebulosity surrounds this star appearing as a triangular-shape nebulosity with Merope at its apex. If you look at the cluster closely, a nebulous halo is detected around other bright stars, but this may be caused by optical flares.