Celestial Phenomena: The Moon and the Pleiades

[Calculus]

I'm looking to make a series of snapshots involving Deep Sky objects. Here is the first one:

From time to time, the Moon occults the Pleiades (M45). This is not a very rare event (it happens a couple times in a decade) but this one shows the Moon right in the middle of the open cluster. It is surrounded by the brightest stars of M45: Atlas, Pleione, Alcyone, Merope, Electra, Celaeno, Taygeta, Asterope (from left to right then around the Moon). Maya is occulted by the Moon.

Enjoy this beautiful event:
http://ennui.shatters.net/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=Calculus&id=Moon_in_the_middle_of_Pleiades_as_seen_from_Earth_on_March_19_1972

BTW: I used Celestia 1.3 with the new feature to render Deep Sky objects.

[Redfish]

Hmm was wondering how you get those stars so blue...

[the bluemarble guy]

where is it downloadable from

[Dust_n_Gas]

Hmm was wondering how you get those stars so blue...

Looks like a combination of Celestias Moon and an external pic of the Pleiades, unless 1.3 has managed to include the nebulosity associated with the cluster.

[jim]

Hi all,

I made a "real" shot of this scene (without a deep sky object). The viewing place on earth was the very north west in spain. Of course the large star database (starsdb2.0C) must be installed to see all these stars.

Jens

[Calculus]

Indeed, the photo I posted is unrealistic. To unveil the colors and details of M45 one needs a very long pause. With the bright moon in middle of the Pleiades, it is impossible. It is just pretty!

[Hoover]

Calculus,

Where did you get that texture for the Pleiades in your gallery? Its much better than the built in one. I've looked around for it on the net but I suspect you created your own. Is that the case?