The Pleiades

The Pleiades is an open star cluster in the constellation Tauraus that you’ve probably spotted once or twice in the winter sky. It is also known as the Seven Sisters, although some quick math will reveal that there are more than 7 stars in the cluster. Pleiades is the closest Messier object to earth at about 444 light years away. While it’s not terribly difficult to find in the sky, it’s a great target for using averted vision, particularly if you’re in an area with some light pollution. By looking just slightly away from it, you can spot it much easier since the rods in your peripheral vision are much much more sensitive to light than the color sensitive cones near the center of your eyes.