#ngc 1435

[quiltofstars]

The Merope Nebula (NGC 1435, left) // Brian Diaz & Insight Observatory

In this zoom in on the Pleiades (M45), the star on the left is Merope (23 Tauri) while the star on the right is Alcyone (η Tauri). Both sisters have their origins in Greek mythology as daughters of Atlas and Pleione.

Merope is the faintest of the Pleiades, being the only one of her sisters to marry a mortal, Sisyphus. This translates into actual observation: many astronomers did not see her or add her to their star charts!

Meanwhile, Alcyone attracted the attention of Poseidon and had several children with him.

[quiltofstars]

The Merope Nebula (NGC 1435) amongst the stars of the Pleiades (M45) // Alicia Rossiter

The bright star at the bottom in the midst of the blue glowing gas is Merope (23 Tauri). The bright star at the top left is Electra (17 Tauri). Both stars get their names from Greek mythology, being the Pleiades, the daughters of Atlas and Pleione.

Electra was the second-oldest sister. She had two sons, Dardanus and Iasion, both by Zeus. She is also said to be the protector of Troy. In order to explain Electra's (the star) faintness, it is said that unable to behold the destruction of Troy, she hid her eyes and turned away.

Merope was the youngest sister. She is the faintest star because Merope was the only one of her sisters to marry a mortal, marrying Sisyphus.

[quiltofstars]

Merope (23 Tauri) in the Pleiades (M45) // Gaillard Jérôme

Merope (23 Tauri) is a blue-white subgiant star about 460 light years from Earth. It is about 4 times the mass of the Sun and radiating over 900 times the light of the Sun. However, this is still the faintest of the stars in the Pleiades. Surrounding Merope is the Merope Nebula (NGC 1435).

Its name comes from Greek mythology: Merope is one of the Pleiades, the daughters of Atlas and Pleione. Mythology explains why Merope is the faintest star: she was the only one of her sisters to marry a mortal man, Sisyphus.

[brightestofcentaurus]

NGC 1435

NGC 1435 is a reflection nebula located about 400 light years away in the Pleiades. It surrounds one of the brightest stars in the open cluster, Merope, also called 23 Tau (by the Flamsteed designation system, ordering stars in a constellation by increasing right ascension).

Reflection nebulae are created by starlight reflecting off dust grains surrounding bright stars. Carbon, the most common element in these clouds, reflect blue more efficiently than red, giving reflection nebula their blue color. The color and brightness of the star, along with the size and shape of the dust grains, determine the brightness of the nebula.

Image and information from NASA.

[dingdongdead-blog]

[thisyouniverse]

Messier 45 (by Astrobobo)