Follow the three belt stars of Orion (again, about 20 degrees) northwest to the head of Taurus, the Bull. It can be easily identified because of the bright reddish star Aldebaran.

Above Taurus, riding on the back of the bull, is the Pleiades or Seven Sisters. Also known as Messier 45, this young and bright open cluster is easily visible to the unaided eye and resembles a smaller version of the Big Dipper. At least six hot blue stars are readily visible and keen-eyed observers can see more under dark skies away from all light pollution.

But for a real treat, grab some binoculars or a telescope. Try to count the number of "sisters" that really live in this cluster! Feel free to stop counting when you reach, say, one hundred!

Because of its large diameter—two degrees—Messier 45 is best seen with binoculars. A faint veil of nebulosity surrounds the brightest Pleiades members, with the most easily observable patch being the Merope Nebula (IC 349), which surrounds the star Merope. These reflection nebulae are not remnants of the gas cloud where the Pleiades was born, but a chance cloud of dust the cluster is passing through.

In some ancient cultures, ceremonies to honor the dead were held on the day when the Pleiades reached its highest point in the sky at midnight—around Halloween. Ancient Aztecs believed the Pleiades would be overhead at midnight on the day the world ended.