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. The cluster contains the two reflection nebulae NGC 1432 (Maia Nebula) and NGC 1435 (Merope Nebula).

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 to 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.

The Pleiades themselves have no NGC number, but two reflection nebulae within the Pleiades, which are named after stars (see map below):

• NGC 1432 Maia Nebula
• NGC 1435 Merope Nebula

Map

M 45 (Pleiades, Seven Sisters) in constellation Taurus/Bull (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

My Best Own Photos

Atik Infinity & Skymax-127 (January 14, 2018)

M 45 (Taurus), center, post-processed		M 45 (Taurus), center, post-processed

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 - Jan 18, 2023		M 45 - Dec 18, 2023, 15 min
M 45 - Dec 17, 2022, photo on top processed		M 45 - Jan 18, 2023, photo on top processed		M 45 - Dec 18, 2023, photo on top processed

Vespera

M 45, Feb 6, 2023 - original, 2440s, mosaic		M 45, Feb 6, 2023 - large, 2440s, mosaic, photo left processed
M 45, Feb 6, 2023 - large, 2440s, mosaic, processed, denoised (PAI)		M 45, Feb 6, 2023 - large, 2440s, mosaic, processed, denoised (TP)
M 45, Jan 9, 2024 - original, 1880s, small mosaic		M 45, Jan 9, 2024 - large, 1880s, small mosaic, photo left processed

Vespera Pro

M 45, Nov 4, 2024 - 2000, 2410s (40 min)		M 45, Nov 4, 2024 - 2000, 2410s (40 min), photo left processed
M 45, Nov 4, 2024 - 2000, 2410s (40 min), processed and denoised (DN)		M 45, Feb 8, 2025 - 2000, 3950s (66 min), processed and denoised (PAI)
M 45, Feb 8, 2025 - 2000, 3950s (66 min)		M 45, Feb 8, 2025 - 2000, 3950s (66 min), photo left processed
M 45, Feb 17, 2025 - 2000, 1840s (30 min)		M 45, Feb 17, 2025 - 2000, 1840s (30 min), photo left processed
M 45, Nov 4, 2024 - 2000, 2410s (40 min), processed and denoised (DN) ) - for comparison		M 45, Feb 17, 2025 - 2000, 1840s (30 min), photo above left processed and denoised (PAI)
M 45, Mar 18, 2025 - 2000, 40 min		M 45, Mar 18, 2025 - 2000, 40 min, processed
M 45, Mar 18, 2025 - 2000, 40 min, processed and denoised (PAI)		M 45, Mar 18, 2025 - 2000, 40 min, from TIFF processed and denoised (PAI)
M 45, Mar 18, 2025 - 2000, 40 min		M 45, Mar 18, 2025 - 2000, 40 min, processed
M 45, Mar 18, 2025 - 2000, 40 min, processed and denoised (PAI)		M 45, Mar 18, 2025 - 2000, 40 min, from TIFF processed and denoised (PAI)
M 45, Nov 21, 2025 - 2000, 10 min		M 45, Nov 21, 2025 - 2000, 10 min, processed
M 45, Nov 21, 2025 - 2000, 10 min, processed and denoised (TP)		M 45, Nov 21, 2025 - 2000, 10 min, ditto made brighter

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

• February 26, 2019 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: PS 72/432 on AZ Pronto Mount, Heritage 100P, TS binoculars): Pleiades M 45 beautiful (PS 73/432, 100 P; small magnifications); in the TS binoculars beautiful as well.
• February 27, 2019 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: PS 72/432 on AZ Pronto Mount, TS binoculars): Pleiades M 45 beautiful (small magnifications); seen in the TS binoculars as well.

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, 2023 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope2): M 45 photographed (app version 2.2)
• February 6, 2023 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera): M 45 photographed (single shot and mosaic)
• February 7, 2023 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope2): M 45 photographed (app version 2.3)
• February 12, 2023 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope2): M 45 photographed (app version 2.3)

Observations December 2023

• December 18, 2023 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope2): M 45 photographed (app version 2.5, DDT)

Observations January to November 2024

• January 9, 2024 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera): M 45 photographed (mosaic), Maia and Merope Nebulae recognizable
• April 10, 2024 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: LT/TS Binocular): M 45 observed
• November 4, 2024 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera Pro): M 45 photographed (40 min), nebulae recognizable
• November 29, 2024 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: TLAPO804): M 42/43 observed

Observations January to March 2025

• January 18, 2024 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: TLAPO804): M 45 observed
• February 1, 2024 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: TLAPO804): M 45 observed
• February 8, 2025 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera Pro): M 45 photographed (66 min), nebulae recognizable, but poor conditions
• February 17, 2025 (Erkerode: Vespera Pro): M 45 photographed (30 min), nebulae recognizable
• March 16, 2024 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: TLAPO804): M 45 observed
• March 18, 2025 (Erkerode: Vespera Pro): M 45 photographed (40 min), nebulae recognizable

Observations 2025

• November 21, 2025 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera Pro): M 45 photographed (10 min), nebulae recognizable; aborted because nothing seemed to happen

References

• Messier Catalogue - Messier 45: messier.seds.org/m/m045.html
• Pleiades (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_45, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleiades
• Maia (star) (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maia_(star) (includes short notes about NGC 1432)
• NGC 1435 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_1435

On this Site

• Sky-Watcher Heritage P130 Information (5" Dobson)
• Sky-Watcher Heritage 100P Information (4" Dobson)
• GSO GSD 680 Information (8" Dobson)
• Sky-Watcher Skymax-127 OTA Information (5" Maksutov-Cassegrain)
• Sky-Watcher Explorer 150PDS Information (6" Newton)
• Omegon Photography Scope 72/432 ED OTA Information (2.8" Refractor)
• Sky-Watcher StarTravel 120/600 OTA Information (4.7" Refractor, Borrowed)
• Celestron C8 OTA Information (8" Schmidt-Cassegrain)
• Celestron C5 OTA Information (5" Schmidt-Cassegrain)
• TS Optics Photoline 102/715 Information (4" Refractor)
• TS Optics Photoline 80/480 Information (3.2" Refractor) (TLAPO804)
• Unistellar eVscope Information
• Unistellar eVscope 2 Information
• Vaonis Vespera - Information
• Vaonis Vespera Pro - Information
• Sky-Watcher AZ Pronto Mount Information
• Sky-Watcher AZ4 Mount Information
• Sky-Watcher AZ-GTi AZ GoTo Mount Information
• Sky-Watcher Star Discovery AZ GoTo Mount Information
• Celestron StarSense AutoAlign for Sky-Watcher Information
• Atik Infinity Colour Camera - Information
• My Binoculars
• My Starfield Binoculars

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 12 2023		M 45 - Dec 18, 2023, 15 min
M 45 - Feb 7, 2023, photo on top processed		M 45 - Feb 12, 2023, photo on top processed		M 45 - Dec 18, 2023, photo on top processed

Vespera

M 45, Feb 6, 2023 - original, 1200s		M 45, Feb 6, 2023 - large, 1200s, photo left processed
M 45, Feb 6, 2023 - original, 2440s, mosaic		M 45, Feb 6, 2023 - large, 2440s, mosaic, photo left processed
M 45, Feb 6, 2023 - large, 2440s, mosaic, processed, denoised (PAI)		M 45, Feb 6, 2023 - large, 2440s, mosaic, processed, denoised (TP)
M 45, Jan 9, 2024 - original, 1880s, small mosaic		M 45, Jan 9, 2024 - large, 1880s, small mosaic, photo left processed

Vespera Pro

M 45, Nov 4, 2024 - 2000, 2410s (40 min)		M 45, Nov 4, 2024 - 2000, 2410s (40 min), photo left processed
M 45, Nov 4, 2024 - 2000, 2410s (40 min), processed and denoised (DN)		M 45, Feb 8, 2025 - 2000, 3950s (66 min), photo below processed and denoised (PAI)
M 45, Feb 8, 2025 - 2000, 3950s (66 min)		M 45, Feb 8, 2025 - 2000, 3950s (66 min), photo left processed
M 45, Feb 17, 2025 - 2000, 1840s (30 min)		M 45, Feb 17, 2025 - 2000, 1840s (30 min), photo left processed
M 45, Nov 4, 2024 - 2000, 2410s (40 min), processed and denoised (DN) ) - for comparison		M 45, Feb 17, 2025 - 2000, 1840s (30 min), photo above left processed and denoised (PAI)
M 45, Mar 18, 2025 - 2000, 40 min		M 45, Mar 18, 2025 - 2000, 40 min, processed
M 45, Mar 18, 2025 - 2000, 40 min, processed and denoised (PAI)		M 45, Mar 18, 2025 - 2000, 40 min, from TIFF processed and denoised (PAI)
M 45, Nov 21, 2025 - 2000, 10 min		M 45, Nov 21, 2025 - 2000, 10 min, processed
M 45, Nov 21, 2025 - 2000, 10 min, processed and denoised (TP)		M 45, Nov 21, 2025 - 2000, 10 min, ditto made brighter