M42 The Great Orion Nebula

The Pleiades open star cluster is visible to the naked eye as a group of 6 or 7 stars on clear winter evenings. It has a strong resemblance to a small dipper and many people mistake this cluster for the little dipper. With long exposure photographs hundreds of stars are visible in this beautiful cluster as well as some of the most beautiful blue nebulosity. M45 can be found in the constellation of Taurus and is approx 407 light years from earth. References to the Pleiades can be found in several places in the Old Testament.

Image courtesy of Scott Hammonds