Anyone know what this is?

[alwayscurious]

Hi, I live in the south east of England.  A few nights ago some time around midnight I observed something I have not seen before  To the south, right of the moon, I saw what looked like about 6 stars very close together in a kind of triangle /kite shape.  It really stuck out because of how close together they were, and of the same brightness, almost like it was a single structure. The were about 5 stars in a triangle shape with one other star slight outside of it, which have it that kite appearance

I don't know much about astronomy but I've never noticed that formation before. 

I'll try and get another look when I get a chance and the sky is clear, which isn't very often in the UK.   I've added a couple of drawings from my memory. .I think the first drawing is more accurate. Any ideas of  what constellation it could be?

Edited November 24, 2021 by alwayscurious

[John]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Looking at the position of the moon a couple of days ago (I've taken the 22nd as it was clear night) I would say that the group of stars you saw were likely to be the Pleiades or 7 Sisters star cluster which is in the constellation of Taurus. Despite the name, 6 stars are more regularly visible to the naked eye and they do form a close group with a shape that could approximate what you describe. They would have been to the right and slightly higher in the sky than the moon that night and in the south eastern sky.

 

 

Edited November 24, 2021 by John

[alwayscurious]

Hi,

 

Thank you.  I've done an image search and it does look similar to that.  I'll have to get another look of it and make a more accurate drawing, but I think you're correct.

 

I'm surprised I've never seen it before.   I thought I had made a new discovery.  Oh well.