What specific designation is given to the famous open cluster known as the Pleiades?
Answer
M45
The Pleiades is one of the most recognizable open clusters, often referred to as the Seven Sisters. Within astronomical catalogs, this particular grouping is officially designated by its entry in the Messier catalog, which is M45. This cluster is notable for being one of the brightest and nearest examples visible to Earth, often displaying its distinctive blue light to the naked eye while located in the constellation Taurus.
Related Questions
What single entity forms the shared birthplace of stars in an open cluster?Where are open clusters almost exclusively located within spiral galaxies like the Milky Way?What physical characteristic causes young open clusters to exhibit bright, blue-white light?What structural property explains the relatively short lifespan of open clusters compared to globular clusters?What external galactic dynamic process causes the eventual dispersal of an open cluster?In which distinct region of the galaxy do ancient globular clusters predominantly orbit?What is the approximate upper age limit generally attributed to open clusters?How does the typical star count in an open cluster compare to that of a globular cluster?What specific designation is given to the famous open cluster known as the Pleiades?What material is rapidly cleared away shortly after the ignition of stars within a molecular cloud?