ANSWER: PLEIADES SHAPE
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ANSWER: PLEIADES SHAPE
So, this star cluster is often mistaken for the Big Dipper!
(An asterism and not by itself a constellation)
Note that the Big Dipper (part of the Ursa Major constellation) is only visible over the Northern Horizon but the Pleiades cannot be seen over this horizon from the continental USA. Furthermore, the Pleiades spans only about 1-1/2 degrees (3 moon diameters) on the sky but the Big Dipper's length is more than 25 degrees! (See bottom diagram below.)
(Click diagrams to enlarge)
PLEIADES BIG DIPPER
BIG DIPPER POSITION AND SIZE COMPARED WITH PLEIADES
(Diagram produced using Stellarium Software)
