| Hyades |
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An open star cluster in the constellation Taurus. Its members appear to be scattered around the star Aldebaran (which does not itself belong to the cluster but is in the foreground), over an area 8° in diameter. It is the nearest star cluster, lying at a distance of about 150 light years. Because it appears so scattered, it was not listed in either the Messier Catalogue or the New General Catalogue. See also: open cluster. |