The Pleiades, M45, is one of the nearest open star clusters. It appears high overhead in the constellation Taurus on winter evenings in the northern hemisphere. Light from the cluster's hot blue stars reflecting off of the surrounding interstellar dust cloud shines as a blue reflection nebula.

Composite of 24 5-minute exposures on 2009-01-24 starting at 7:51 p.m. EST and 26 5-minute exposures on 2009-01-29 starting at 6:59 p.m. EST with a Canon 40D at ISO 800 through an Astro-Physics 105mm refractor at f6. Photographed from northern New Jersey. ©2009