Pleiades Nebula

[kerrylewis]

Is the nebulosity around some of the Pleiades stars only visible photographically? I've never seen any sign of it through a scope or bins

[cotterless45]

Yep, you should pick up a furry glow around the stars which is nebulosity.

Nick.

[kerrylewis]

Quick reply Nick! Do any of the filters help?

[Daniel-K]

from a darkish site ive picked it up in my 10x50's and when i had my 10" DOB its very clear

[Andrew*]

It needs a dark sky really.

No filter will do a great job on the Merope nebula because it's continuum reflection nebulosity, not emission line but there's no harm trying an LP filter.

I have seen it with a 16" lightbridge in mediocre skies, but with a 5" apo refracter from excellent skies.

[kerrylewis]

Right. I must give it a go and look carefully. I had always wondered if the nebulosity might be a bit swamped by the stars

[Andy_E]

Funnily enough the nebulosity is actually created by the stars. The dust that is illuminated is, to my knowledge, totally unrelated to the pliades cluster and simply happens to be in the same place at this current time.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

As far as I know the reflection nebula is formed from the remains of the nebula from which the stars formed. I may be wrong. I have seen it with my 80 mm APM from a dark site.

[Andy_E]

As far as I know the reflection nebula is formed from the remains of the nebula from which the stars formed. I may be wrong. I have seen it with my 80 mm APM from a dark site.

One of us is right.... not sure I'd put money on who though

[kerrylewis]

I thought that I had read somewhere that the nebulosity is not what is seems and is just 'line of sight'

[Moonshane]

never seen it myself but will be trying at PSP

[Rockrae78]

Saw it recently in the Brecon Beacons.  Darkest site I've ever been too, and the nebulosity was obvious (was using the CPC 800, focal reducer, and a BH 72^o Aspheric EP. 

Truly one of the most amazing sites I've seen (although not been at this long!).  I was blown away.  So, so pretty. 

Only advice I could give here is to get to a very dark site.  Don't think you'll have a chance in hell of seeing it unless you do.

[kerrylewis]

All interesting - seems like it has to be a dark site then. Lovely description Rae, really makes me want to see it.

Kerry

[jetstream]

Saw it recently in the Brecon Beacons.  Darkest site I've ever been too, and the nebulosity was obvious (was using the CPC 800, focal reducer, and a BH 72^o Aspheric EP. 

Truly one of the most amazing sites I've seen (although not been at this long!).  I was blown away.  So, so pretty. 

Only advice I could give here is to get to a very dark site.  Don't think you'll have a chance in hell of seeing it unless you do.

Last winter I saw it under very cold, clear & dark skies,it was unreal-a wow moment for me.That same night M42 was absolutely stunning.I was using a 90mm refractor with the 23mm & 10mm Luminos & the nebulosity completley changed the nature of this object,it is beautiful.Seeing those 2 objects that night has led me to seriously pursue this hobby.

[kerrylewis]

Wow what great reports. This is why we pursue this lovely hobby. Now I have another target on my wish list, thanks everyone

Kerry

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Apparently, the current understanding is that the Pleiades are passing through a region of dust, unrelated to their origin (my information was outdated). It is not a "line of sight" case (as in the planetary nebula in M47); the stars are moving through the dust itself

[faulksy]

you will see it in your scope as I can in mine, but obviously only around a few brighter stars due to the small fov. dark skies help as well

[kerrylewis]

Thanks Michael - that must be what I read, misunderstanding or more likely misremembering the line of sight bit!

And thanks Faulksy. The sky at my house is not too bad especially since the street light outside went kaput- hope nobody reports it! But I am on the look out for a dark site. My wife's cousin lives in the countryside east of here and I'm going to take a look from there at some point.

Kerry

[ollypenrice]

In some wavelengths I think it is possible to see a 'wake' created by the movement of the stars through the gas and dust. If images go deep enough and are wide enough to reach beyond the blue regions you can capture the brownish dust.  http://ollypenrice.smugmug.com/Other/Best-of-Les-Granges/i-WQXKB6Z/0/X3/M45%20COMPOSITE%20FL-X3.jpg

I find the nebulosity very variable in visual observing, with it showing fairly easily on one clear night and then not on another. It may, of course, just be my eyes! The best choice for me is the large apo and Nagler 26EP. It is also possible to mistake a slight dewing of the optics for this nebulosity. The test is to slew to similar magnitude stars and see if you still see it.

Olly

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

For me the best views were with the 80 mm with 22mm T4, and with the C8 and 31mm T5 "Panzerfaust". The latter showed parts of the nebula best when you put the stars just outside of the FOV

[kerrylewis]

This is turning out to be a very interesting thread. I am looking forward to having a closer look at M45. I used to wonder about this Messier chap - I mean who could possibly mistake the Pleiades for a comet? But, if there is some nebulosity visible then maybe he had a point!

Kerry

[Andrew*]

I don't believe Messier either saw nebulosity or mistook it for a comet. I read somewhere that he quickly added M42-45  which are all bright, well-known objects, in advance of publishing his catalogue.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

I gather that Messier at first wanted to catalogue comet like structures which did not move, and distracted him in his search for comets. He later started getting interested in these objects themselves, and started cataloguing more and more objects which were clearly not comet like. The first claims of the reflection nebula in the Pleiades was greeted with scepticism, I seem to remember. Only when it started showing up on plates did people genuinely believe it was a real feature

[acey]

I've never managed to see the nebulosity, though I've sometimes thought I've seen it - then I've checked around other non-nebulous stars and realised I was only seeing light scattered by the optics or thin haze. Must try again this winter - I'll use a small refractor at a very dark site and make sure the transparency is excellent - then I stand a chance.

Messier added M45 as a list-filler; the Merope Nebula was discovered by Tempel in the 1850s using a 4" refractor (pictured below). There was indeed some initial scepticism about the nebula's existence as many others failed to see it.

[TwoPi]

As Kerry says above, interesting & inspiring thread.

It's going on my list!