Spent an hour on the Pleiades today

[pakarinen]

Woke up early enough again that I was able to grab the 80mm and step outside. I decided that rather than flitting around, I'd zero in on M45.

Focused first on Alcyone and it's little companion 24 Tau (Alcyone B). I then traced the arc of fainter stars down from Alcyone to 5th mag HR1172 which has a 14th mag companion, but no way was I going to see that. I wanted to check the faintest star I could see in the arc when I noticed that there was 6th star in the arc - HD23665, listed as mag 8 variable. I haven't checked the light curve (if there is one), so I'm not sure it was actually at mag 8 this morning. Seemed fainter than that to me.

I've been curious about a faint pair that sits in the bowl of Pleiades, wondering if it's a true double. HD 23479 is 503 light years away and HD 23463 is 2718 ly away, both listed as doubles, but obviously not with each other.

I then went back to the vicinity of Alcyone and had a look at V647 Tau and HD23608 which make a small right triangle with 24 Tau. The faintest of the three is 23608 at mag 8. V1210 Tau is another variable that sits above the arc and to the west of Alcyone. V1210 is listed as an F0V eruptive variable- a main sequence star with indigestion.

Slewed over to Atlas (27 Tau) and Pleione. Just winking in and out with averted vision near Atlas was an HD at 9th magnitude. I managed to garble my voice notes though so I don't have the correct designation. Admired 4th mag Taygeta for a few minutes to finish up.

I didn't check for smoke, but based on this, I'm thinking 9th mag is about as deep as I can go with my 80mm under reasonable sky conditions here. Not going to be seeing 10th mag extended objects like galaxies. Curious to see how faint in the Pleiades the 80mm can go at a dark site.

[Bigzmey]

A nice tour of Pleiades Pakarinen! I suppose you did not detect any nebulosity in them?

[turboscrew]

Very nice report.

[pakarinen]

A nice tour of Pleiades Pakarinen! I suppose you did not detect any nebulosity in them?

No. Previous attempts from home have been unsuccessful. I should try from a dark(er) site.

[Makuser]

Hi Olen. A very nice and well written observing report on my favorite Messier object (M45 -The Seven Sisters). It looks like you pulled out a good handful of targets with the 80mm scope. I hope that you can do this again from a darker site, or maybe just pull out the big 120mm scope. Thanks for your observing report Olen, and keep looking up.

[KingNothing13]

Very nice.

While I have seen the Pleiades many times, I've only observed with the telescope once. I should try to change that this year.

[notFritzArgelander]

Very nice.

While I have seen the Pleiades many times, I've only observed with the telescope once. I should try to change that this year.

Oh please do, with as many scopes as you can! It repays many different approaches.

[SpyderwerX]

Very nice.

While I have seen the Pleiades many times, I've only observed with the telescope once. I should try to change that this year.

Oh please do, with as many scopes as you can! It repays many different approaches.

Indeed it does. I've studied from afar in widefield, and in high mag examination of the individuals and pairings. Always a new discovery and perspective to be enjoyed.