For mid-latitude Northern Hemisphere observers, it appears low down during the summer months. The cluster is best seen from southern and equatorial regions during the months of June, July and August. Only 3.5 degrees west of M25 is M24, the large Sagittarius Star Cloud. It's positioned 6.5 degrees north and a little east of the top star of the bright teapot asterism of Sagittarius, Kaus Borealis (λ Sgr - mag. Dreyer, in the supplementary Index Catalogue (as IC 4725).įinding M25 is relatively easy. M25 was finally included in 1908, by J.L.E. This is despite the cluster been catalogued by Johann Elert Bode in 1777, observed by William Herschel in 1783 and described by Admiral Smyth in 1836. For such a bright cluster it's reasonable to assume that it would have been included by John Herschel in his comprehensive 19th century General Catalogue. There is however an unusual twist to the history of M25. It was discovered by Philippe Loys de Chéseaux in 1745 and subsequently catalogued by Charles Messier on June 20, 1764. +4.6, naked eye open cluster in Sagittarius that's a wonderful sight in binoculars and small telescopes.
#STAR CHART TONIGHT PDF#
The main stars appear bright and striking, with up to 10 or more visible under ideal conditions.įinder Chart for M45 - pdf format (credit:- freestarcharts) From dark sites, the Pleiades is an outstanding naked eye object. Even under light polluted skies the dipper shape is readily visible. At the heart of the cluster is a set of stars that form a small dipper shape, similar to the brightest stars of Ursa Major.
#STAR CHART TONIGHT FULL#
On closer inspection, M45 reveals itself to be a beautiful cluster of about half a dozen white stars, covering an area much greater than that of the full Moon. At first glance with the naked eye, it's obvious that something is special about this small section of sky. The cluster is positioned about 14 degrees northwest of orange giant star Aldebaran (mag. Located in the large and prominent zodiac constellation of Taurus, this showpiece object is best seen during the Northern Hemisphere Winter and the Southern Hemisphere Summer months.įinding M45 is easy. It's a breathtaking site, known since antiquity and easily visible to the naked eye. M45, commonly known as the Pleiades or Seven Sisters, is the finest open cluster in the sky. Messier 45 - M45 - The Pleiades (Open Cluster)
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