M45 • Pleiades
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This 1 hour and 21 minute integrated exposure was captured from the Bortle Class 3 skies at the Fox Observatory on the Bruce Peninsula (Ontario, Canada).

Located about 444 light years from Earth, Messier 45 (aka M45, The Pleiades, The Seven Sisters) is an asterism and open star cluster in the constellation Taurus. Reflection nebulae around hot blue luminous star gives the Pleiades its somewhat eerie and spectacular glow.

According to Greek mythology the Pleiades were the seven sister-nymph companions of Artemis, the goddess of the hunt. The sisters were translated to the night sky by the ancients as a cluster of the stars Maia, Electra, Taygete, Alcyone, Celaeno, Sterope, Merope.

• Camera:Nikon D750 (unmodified),
• Telescope: William Optics Zenithstar 61 APO Refractor,
• Skywatcher HEQ5 Mount
• Guide Scope/Camera: None
• ASIair Controller

Processed using a combination of Astro Pixel Processor and Photoshop.

Note: I had an unrecoverable laptop crash during the initial phase of imaging. It was only through the kind assistance and generosity of a fellow amateur astronomer that I was able to complete this imaging session using his ZWO ASIair controller and tablet. Thanks! What a terrific sense of support and community. :)