Messier 45 (M 45) - (Pleiades, Seven Sisters)
Introduction | Map | My
Best Own Photos | My Own
Observations | References || Appendix:
My Own Photos
On this page I collect my observations of the open star cluster M
45 (Pleiades, Seven Sisters) in the constellation Taurus/Bull.
Introduction
I know the Pleiades (M 45, Seven Sisters) in constellation Taurus/Bull since
my childhood. Finding them was therefore no problem for me, especially since
they are already visible with the naked eye. They are also a nice object
in the binocular, but much more so in a telescope at low magnifications. In
a telescope, there are, of course,
even more stars visible and many of them are almost sparkling. I think that
with the C8, I also saw some of the nebulae around the stars.
Size: 1.8° x 1.2° (Stoyan)
Distance: 490 light years
Rating: *****
Map

M 45 (Pleiades, Seven Sisters) in constellation Taurus/Bull (Image
Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)
My Own Photos
Atik Infinity & Skymax-127 (January 14, 2018)
 |
|
 |
M 45 (Taurus), center, post-processed |
|
M 45 (Taurus), center, post-processed |
Note that these photos show the complete image and that the large versions
are in original size. This is due to the fact that the sky objects are extended
- even beyond the field of view.
Atik Infinity & Explorer 150PDS (March 14, 2018)
 |
|
 |
M 45 (Taurus), post-processed and sharpened |
|
Ditto, post-processed and sharpened |
Sony RX10 M4 (February 11, 2021)
 |
|
 |
M 45 mit Sony RX10 M4, ISO 3200 |
|
M 45 mit Sony RX10 M4, ISO 6400 |
 |
|
 |
M 45 mit Sony RX10 M4, ISO 3200, bearbeitet |
|
M 45 mit Sony RX10 M4, ISO 6400, bearbeitet |
 |
|
 |
M 45 mit Sony RX10 M4, ISO 3200, mehrere Fotos in Affinity Photo überlagert
(Durchschnitt) |
|
M 45 mit Sony RX10 M4, ISO 6400, mehrere Fotos in Affinity Photo überlagert
(Durchschnitt) |
 |
|
 |
M 45 mit Sony RX10 M4, ISO 3200, mehrere Fotos in Affinity Photo überlagert
(Durchschnitt), bearbeitet |
|
M 45 mit Sony RX10 M4, ISO 6400, mehrere Fotos in Affinity Photo überlagert
(Durchschnitt), bearbeitet |
Aufnahmedaten: M-Modus mit 1 s und f/4, 600 mm, ISO 3200/6400, Langzeit-Rauschunterdrückung
ein, manueller Fokus
Sony RX10 M4 (February 12, 2021)
 |
|
 |
M 45 with Sony RX10 M4, ISO 6400 |
|
M 45 with Sony RX10 M4, ISO 6400, processed |
 |
|
 |
M 45 with Sony RX10 M4, ISO, 11 photos stacked in Affinity Photo
(average) |
|
M 45 with Sony RX10 M4, 11 photos stacked in Affinity Photo (average),
processed |
Photo data: M mode with 1 s and f/4, 600 mm, ISO 6400, long-time noise suppression
off, manual focus
eVscope
 |
|
 |
|
 |
M 45 - Mar 18, 2020 |
|
M 45 - Nov 17, 2020 |
|
M 45 - Jan 24, 2022 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
M 45 - Mar 18, 2020, photo on top processed |
|
M 45 - Nov 17, 2020, photo on top processed |
|
M 45 - Jan 24, 2022, photo on top processed |
eVscope 2
 |
|
 |
|
 |
M 45 - Dec 17, 2022 |
|
M 45 - Dec 17, 2022 |
|
M 45 - Jan 18, 2023 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
M 45 - Dec 17, 2022, photo on top processed |
|
M 45 - Dec 17, 2022, photo on top processed |
|
M 45 - Jan 18, 2023, photo on top processed |
Vespera
 |
|
 |
M 45 - Feb 6, 2023, 1200s |
|
M 45 - Feb 6, 2023, photo left processed |
 |
|
 |
M 45 - Feb 6, 2023 - 2440s, mosaic |
|
M 45 - Feb 6, 2023, photo left processed |
My Own Observations
Observations February 2017
- February 13, 2017 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Heritage
100P, LT binoculars): M 45 observed; in a 4" telescope
there are, of course, even more stars visible than in binoculars, and
many of them are almost sparkling.
- February 14, 2017 (ditto: GSO GSD 680,
LT binoculars): M 45 observed, even more impressive than in the
small 100P...
- February 15, 2017: (ditto: Heritage
100P on GoTo mount,
LT binoculars): M 45 observed, like on Feb 13
- February 18, 2017 (ditto: GSO GSD 680): M
45 observed, even more impressive than in the small 100P...
- February 26, 2017: (ditto: Heritage
P130 on GoTo mount): M
45 observed, even more impressive than in the small 100P... (new
moon).
- March 2, 2017: (ditto): Ditto
Observations October/November 2017
- October 2017 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: LT and TS binoculars): M
45 observed
- November 13, 2017 (Mühlhausen: LT and TS binoculars): M 45 seen
well in my binoculars
Observations January-March 2018
- Jan 14, 2018 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Skymax-127 on GoTo mount
with Atik Infinity): M
45 photographed with Atik Infinity and Skymax-127 (2
x focal reducer and extension tube) on GoTo mount.
- Jan 14, 2018 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: TS binoculars): M 45 observed
with binoculars.
- Feb 4-5, 2018 (ditto): M
45 observed
with binoculars.
- Feb 13, 2018 (ditto): M 45 observed with binoculars.
- March 14, 2018 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Explorer
150PDS on GoTo mount
with Atik Infinity, StarSense): M
45 photographed
with Atik Infinity and Explorer 150PDS
on GoTo mount.
- March 18-19, 2018 (Kellinghusen and Erkerode, TS binoculars): M
45 observed with binoculars.
Observations October/ November 2018
- Oct 4, 2018 (Sumène, Haute Loire, France: PS
72/432, AZ Pronto
Mount): M 45 (Pleiades) seen beautifully,
with TS und OM21 binos as well
- Oct 5, 2018 (Sumène, Haute Loire, France: TS binoculars, LT binoculars):
M 45 seen nicely in a large telescope; also observed M 31 in Betz
with LT binoculars; in Sumène observed with both binoculars.
- Nov 11, 2018 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Heritage
100P, AZ Pronto
Mount, LT binoculars): M
45 observed with telescope and LT binoculars (Astrid) on top of
cemetary.
- Nov 11, 2018 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: PS
72/432, AZ Pronto
Mount): M
45 observed with telescope (28 mm, 16 mm), nice.
Observations February 2019 ff
Observations September to December 2019
- September 30, 2019 (Sumène, France: StarTravel
120/600 on AZ
Pronto Mount): M 45 observed with the 35 mm ED eyepiece,
very nice.
- October 3, 2019 (Sumène, France: StarTravel
120/600 on AZ
Pronto Mount): M 45 once more observed with the 35
mm ED eyepiece.
- October 12, 2019 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: StarTravel
120/600 and PS 72/432 on AZ
Pronto Mount, TS and
LT binoculars): M 45 observed with 35 mm ED
and borrowed 32 mm eyepieces, nicely seen. Also nicely seen with binoculars.
- November 27, 2019 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: C8 on GoTo mount): M 45 seen nicely (probably not completely; 56 mm).
- December 4, 2019 (Erkerode: C8 on GoTo mount,
manually): Saw always only a section of the Pleiades M 45;
I could wander along a little for more (by moving the telescope)... Used
only eyepieces with a long focal length, saw a shimmer around the brighter
stars.
- December 19, 2019 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: C8 on AZ4 mount): M
45 (Pleiades) seen beautifully with 56 and 40 mm
Observations End of December 2019 - March 2020
- December 28, 2019 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: C8 on AZ4
mount, Skymax-127 on AZ
Pronto mount): Observed M 45 (Pleiades) with C8/AZ4
(40 mm) and SM127/Pronto (24 mm); altogether, M 45 was more beautifulin
the C8; I was able to see also the "nebulae" around the stars
in the C8, which you normally only see on photos; maybe a little bit
of nebulae was also visible in the SM127; altogether, M 45 was more beautiful
in the C8.
- December 30, 2019 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: C8 on Star
Discovery mount (manually), Explorer
150PDS on AZ4 mount): M
45 appeared almost better in the 150PDS, because the sky section
was larger; otherwise, it was very similar in both telescopes.
- January 5, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Explorer
150PDS on AZ4 mount): M
45 (Pleiades) looked most beautiful in 40 mm eyepiece (I also used
35, 28 mm)
- January 16, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: C8 on Star
Discovery mount (SynScan WLAN, iPhone), PS72 on AZ
Pronto mount): Entered M 45 in the app and accessed
it; moved too far left, but M 45 was easy to find. Observed only with
40 mm with the C8, was to deep at the bginning (there was a chain of
stars). Moved up later to the "main group". The glow around
the brighter stars was clearly visible.
Observed with 35 (2") and 24 mm with the PS72. A lot of space around m 45
when using 35 mm, the chain of stars was at the bottom and fairly faint; better
fit with 24 mm; I only guessed the glow around the brighter stars...
Observed M 45 with the C8 also with a reducer; here, too, the FOV was too small
for seeing the whole cluster...
- January 18, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: C8 on AZ4
mount): M 45 nice and somewhat "foggy" (section, 40
mm)
- January 20, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: C8 on Star
Discovery mount (manual)): M 45 nice and somewhat "foggy" (section,
40 mm)
- January 24, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: PS72 on AZ
Pronto mount): M 45 found (40, 35 mm)
- January 28, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau:eVscope): M
45 photographed
- February 5, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M
45 photographed
- February 8, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M
45 photographed with poor results
- March 18, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M
45 photographed
Observations November 2020
- November 5, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: TLAPO1027 on AZ4
mount): M 45 observed (26, 40 mm), "rich-field" with
40 mm
- November 17, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M
45 photographed
Observations January to December 2021
- January 10, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: C5 on AZ
Pronto, Skymax-127 on AZ
Pronto and Star Discovery): C5
shows M 45 more or less completely (nice), SM127 only
a section (nice as well, but not the same...)
- February 11, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: RX10 M4 on AZ
Pronto): M 45 photographed (1 s), partly stacked in Affinity
Photo
- February 12, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: RX10 M4 on AZ-GTi): M
45 photographed (1 s), partly
stacked in Affinity Photo
- February 13, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: C5 on AZ-GTi, Atik
Infinity): M 45 photographed,
not very attractive...
- February 20, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M
45 photographed
- March 25, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: PS72 on AZ-GTi, Atik
Infinity): M
45 photographed
- December 21, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope
2): M
45 photographed
Observations January to December 2022
- January 24, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope and eVscope
2): M 45 photographed
- March 20, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope 2): M 45 photographed
- April 9, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope 2): M 45 photographed (app version 1.5), poor
- December 17, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope 2): M 45 photographed (app version 2.2)
Observations January/February 2023
- January 18, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope2): M 45 photographed (app version 2.2)
- February 6, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera): M 45 photographed (single shot and mosaic)
- February 7, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope2): M 45 photographed (app version 2.3)
- February 12, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope2): M 45 photographed (app version 2.3)
References
On this Site

Appendix: My Own Photos
Atik Infinity & Skymax-127 (January 14, 2018)
 |
|
 |
M 45 (Taurus), center, post-processed |
|
M 45 (Taurus), center, post-processed |
Note that these photos show the complete image and that the large versions
are in original size. This is due to the fact that the sky objects are extended
- even beyond the field of view.
Atik Infinity & Explorer 150PDS (March 14, 2018)
 |
|
 |
M 45 (Taurus), post-processed and sharpened |
|
Ditto, post-processed and sharpened |
Atik Infinity & C5 (February 13, 2021)
 |
|
 |
M 45 (Taurus) - February 13, 2021 |
|
Ditto, post-processed |
Atik Infinity & PS 72/432 (March 25, 2021)
 |
|
 |
M 45 (Taurus) - March 25, 2021 |
|
Ditto, post-processed |
eVscope
 |
|
 |
|
|
M 45 - Jan 28, 2020 |
|
M 45 - Feb 5, 2020 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
M 45 - Mar 18, 2020 |
|
M 45 - Mar 18, 2020, Photo left processed |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
M 45 - Nov 14, 2020 |
|
M 45 - Nov 14, 2020 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
M 45 - Nov 14, 2020, photo on top processed |
|
M 45 - Nov 14, 2020, photo on top processed |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
M 45 - Nov 17, 2020 |
|
M 45 - Nov 17, 2020 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
M 45 - Nov 17, 2020, photo on top processed |
|
M 45 - Nov 17, 2020, photo on top processed |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
M 45 - Feb 20, 2021 |
|
M 45 - Feb 20, 2021 |
|
M 45 - Feb 20, 2021 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
M 45 - Feb 20, 2021, photo on top processed |
|
M 45 - Feb 20, 2021, photo on top processed |
|
M 45 - Feb 20, 2021, photo on top processed |
 |
|
 |
|
|
M 45 - Jan 24, 2022
|
|
M 45 - Jan 24, 2022, photo left processed |
|
|
eVscope 2
 |
|
 |
|
 |
M 45 - Dec 21, 2021 |
|
M 45 - Dec 21, 2021 |
|
M 45 - Jan 24, 2022 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
M 45 - Dec 21, 2021, photo on top processed |
|
M 45 - Dec 21, 2021, photo on top processed |
|
M 45 - Jan 24, 2022, photo on top processed |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
M 45 - Mar 20, 2022 |
|
M 45 - Mar 20, 2022, photo left processed |
|
M 45 - Apr 9, 2022 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
M 45 - Dec 17, 2022 |
|
M 45 - Dec 17, 2022 |
|
M 45 - Jan 18, 2023 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
M 45 - Dec 17, 2022, photo on top processed |
|
M 45 - Dec 17, 2022, photo on top processed |
|
M 45 - Jan 18, 2023, photo on top processed |
 |
|
 |
|
|
M 45 - Feb 7 2023 |
|
M 45 - Feb 7, 2023, photo left processed |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
M 45 - Feb 12 2023 |
|
M 45 - Feb 12, 2023, photo left processed |
|
|
Vespera
 |
|
 |
M 45 - Feb 6, 2023, 1200s |
|
M 45 - Feb 6, 2023, photo left processed |
 |
|
 |
M 45 - Feb 6, 2023 - 2440s, mosaic |
|
M 45 - Feb 6, 2023, photo left processed |
