The Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters, is one of the most famous open star clusters in the night sky. It is located in the constellation Taurus and is visible to the naked eye from most places on Earth. The cluster is about 444 light-years away and contains more than 1,000 stars, though only a handful are easily visible.
Key Features of the Pleiades:

• Brightest Stars: The most prominent stars in the cluster include Alcyone, Maia, Electra, Taygeta, Celaeno, Sterope, and Merope, named after the seven sisters of Greek mythology.
• Appearance: The stars are surrounded by a faint blue reflection nebula, caused by interstellar dust scattering the light from these hot, young stars.
• Age: The cluster is relatively young, about 100 million years old, and is still bound together by gravity.
• Cultural Significance: The Pleiades have been important in many cultures, including Greek mythology, Native American traditions, and Japanese folklore (where they are called Subaru).

The best time to observe the Pleiades is in late autumn and winter in the Northern Hemisphere. It appears as a small, dipper-shaped cluster, often mistaken for the Little Dipper, but much smaller.