The Hyades

The Hyades is a relatively young open star cluster that is only about 150 light years from our solar system and may actually be the closest of all known open clusters. This object is in
Taurus, the Bull, and forms what is generally recognized as the 'head' of that constellation. Although the cluster contains hundreds of stars, only about 20 are easily seen without optical aid. The brighter stars of the Hyades form a 'V' shape which is nearly upside down in this photo, extending from the orange star near the top toward the lower left part of this image. The four brightest members are all red giants that have left the main sequence and are heading into old age but the brightest star in this region, Aldebaran, (just below center in this photo) is actually not a part of the cluster, being only about 65 light years from Earth. The Hyades is believed to have formed about 625 million years ago and although a number of members are quite distant from the cluster center and may be in the process of escaping from its gravity, the core continues to harbor many stars that are densely packed in a space of only about 18 light years diameter. The stars in this cluster are well endowed with heavy elements, indicating that the region has experienced multiple supernovae in the past. Although unrelated to the nearby Pleaiades cluster, the Hyades is related to the more distant Praesepe star cluster in Cancer, as indicated by their common proper motion, age, and composition.

 

Image taken November 10, 2013, with the D-90 riding piggy-back on the C-14. Exposure was 30 seconds at ISO 1600 with the Tamron 28-300 zoom lens set at 100mm. The moon was at First Quarter phase.