Pleiades

[risingmoon]

I was wondering if it was the Pleiades I was looking at. It looks like it on the star chart. It was so exciting all the same whatever it was. :D

[Liz]

Hi Sandra :hi: .... the Pleiades are absolutely gorgeous to look at, so maybe it was. They are in the west after sunset/when dark ..... to the upper right of the very bright Venus. Is this where you were looking?

They cover a large area, so in your eyeiece, you will see lots of bright beautiful close together stars. Also bful, and can be appreciated more for the size, in binoculars. :thumbsup:

[mplanet62]

To make the things easier to identify download and install free Stellarium program. It's very good at showing what's there in the sky, and shows the objects with coordinates (Alt-Az as well as EQ). To find anything in the sky with this program you will only need a cheap compass and sharp eye.:)
Smartphones and iPhone have some fun programs too...

[Shark Bait]

Hi Sandra,

These are some of my attempts at M45 -Pleiades. Did your view look like these images?

+1 for binoculars. Some objects are better viewed with the wider field of view that binoculars offer.

Regards,
Stu.

[risingmoon]

I have attached a drawing of the formation of the stars where I saw the cluster and nebula. I have a cross where I found it.
It was just at the bottom of the second star on the left and in between the NW and W sky at between 9.30pm and 10.30pm last night. Maybe it was something else?

[risingmoon]

No I can't say it was but I will try to identify it again next time. The first time is just full of excitement.

[risingmoon]

Hi Liz
I saw some beautiful groups of stars and some very bright, some coloured and some just shiny and bright but they all looked like the heavens had opened it eyes.

[kustard]

Hi Sandra,

From the information in regards to time/direction you've given and your drawing I reckon you have been looking at The Belt/Sword of Orion and the nebula is the Great Orion Nebula (M42). If you were looking at the nebula and saw a kite shape asterism of stars then you'd be looking at the "Trapezium" :)

Cheers,
Simon

[brian nordstrom]

:) Hi Sandra , the drawing looks more like the Hyades cluster in Taurus. Slightly north and east of the Pleades, :question: was there a bright red star at the end of one of the arms (of the V shape) ? ' Aldebaran ?'.
Both the Pleades and Hyades are are beautiful in a wide field eyepiece or Bino's as Stu says .
Glad you are enjoying your time under the stars .
Brian.