SUNSET: 
0
Photographer:
Ron Brooks
Location of Photo:
Erwinna, PA Bucks County
Date/Time of photo:
1/25/2026
Equipment:
William Optics RedCat51, ZWO 2600mm with Antlia V-Pro broadband filters, ZWO 32mm Guide with ZWO 120mm camera, ZWO AM5, ZWO ASIAir Plus, Processed in PixInsight and Photoshop
Description:
Messier 45 (The Pleiades) is a young open star cluster located in the constellation Taurus at a distance of approximately 444 light-years. Dominated by hot, blue B-type stars, the cluster illuminates surrounding interstellar dust, producing the characteristic reflection nebulosity seen throughout the field. The brightest members — including Alcyone, Maia, Merope, Electra, Taygeta, Celaeno, and Atlas — are embedded in faint, filamentary dust structures that are not remnants of the cluster’s formation, but rather an interstellar cloud the group is currently passing through. This image represents 8 hours and 55 minutes of broadband RGB integration, capturing the delicate blue reflection nebulae and subtle dust filaments surrounding the core stars.
