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#1
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What is that thing?
I know nothing about astronomy. I can see a small cluster of stars,
with about 7 to 10 bright stars in it. It almost looks like it is in a kind of mist. Last night it was directly overhead. Tonight it is is in a different direction. What is it? A galaxy? Steve |
#2
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What is that thing?
Sounds like you are describing the Pleiades (AKA The Seven Sisters)
See http://sciastro.net/portia/articles/...x/pleiades.jpg "Steve" wrote in message om... I know nothing about astronomy. I can see a small cluster of stars, with about 7 to 10 bright stars in it. It almost looks like it is in a kind of mist. Last night it was directly overhead. Tonight it is is in a different direction. What is it? A galaxy? Steve |
#3
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#4
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What is that thing?
(Steve) wrote in message . com...
I know nothing about astronomy. I can see a small cluster of stars, with about 7 to 10 bright stars in it. My best guess would be that you saw the Pleiades (M45). It's an "open cluster" of stars that's relatively close to us, which is why it's so easily visible. If you can see more than 6 stars with just your eyes, then you've got pretty good skies and/or eyes. The view through binoculars is spectacular, so if you have one lying around, give it a try--a binocular is really two small, low-magnification telescopes attached to each other. For more information about the Pleiades, refer to the following page: http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m045.html The brightest stars are arranged in a sort of compact "dipper" shape. To confirm your sighting, compare what you saw with these photos: http://www.seds.org/messier/more/m045_m2.html It almost looks like it is in a kind of mist. This cluster is surrounded by gas and dust which reflect some of the light of its stars, although it's extremely unlikely that you'd be able to see it without a rather large telescope. It's possible that there was some haze or particulate matter in the air above you, or the simplest explanation might be that the combined light of the smaller stars in the cluster would appear misty. Last night it was directly overhead. Tonight it is is in a different direction. If I guessed right about the object being the Pleiades, then its position wouldn't change much from night to night at a given time, but it does change fairly quickly with the time on your clock, due to the Earth's rotation. - Robert Cook |
#5
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What is that thing?
Steve wrote:
I know nothing about astronomy. I can see a small cluster of stars, with about 7 to 10 bright stars in it. It almost looks like it is in a kind of mist. Last night it was directly overhead. Tonight it is is in a different direction. What is it? A galaxy? Steve Try: http://www.seds.org/~spider/ngc/ngc.cgi?m45 |
#6
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What is that thing?
If Mr. Wormley is right, there is a definitive
test. Look at it with binoculars. If it turns into a spill of jewels before your very eyes, it's certainly the Pleiades. Sam Wormley wrote: Try: http://www.seds.org/~spider/ngc/ngc.cgi?m45 |
#7
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What is that thing?
Thank you for your responses. I looked at it through binoculars. Spectacular.
Steve |
#8
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What is that thing?
Um, maybe it was the Pleiades...
rat ~( ); email: remove 'et' from .com(et) in above email address |
#9
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What is that thing?
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#10
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