As mid-August nights draw in, stargazers across the northern hemisphere are being treated to some of the most striking views of the year. Among the highlights are three prominent star clusters, each offering a window into the dynamic and ancient life of the Milky Way. From dense globular swarms to open formations etched into familiar constellations, these stellar gatherings are visible to the naked eye from dark-sky sites, but reveal their full majesty when observed with binoculars or a telescope.<h2>What are star clusters?</h2>&nbsp;Star clusters are gravitationally bound families of stars born from the same interstellar cloud. They come in two main types: open clusters and globular clusters. Open clusters, such as the Hyades and the Pleiades, are relatively young and often located in the Milky Way’s spiral arms. Their loosely bound nature means they can disperse over millions of years as passing stars tug at their members. Globular clusters, by contrast, are tightly packed spheres containing hundreds of thousands of stars, often among the oldest in the galaxy. These vast systems orbit in the galactic halo, high above and below the Milky Way’s disk, and many shine brightly enough to appear as faint smudges of light to the unaided eye.&nbsp;Roughly 150 globular clusters and more than 1,000 open clusters. Observing them requires patience and technique: allow around 30 minutes for your eyes to adapt to darkness, and use averted vision, looking slightly to the side of the target, to engage the light-sensitive rods of your eyes. While some clusters can be glimpsed without equipment, 10x50 binoculars sharpen the view and begin to resolve brighter stars, and a telescope of six inches or more reveals their intricate structures in detail.&nbsp;<h2>The Great Hercules Cluster</h2>&nbsp;One of the brightest sights of August evenings is the Great Hercules Cluster, also known as Messier 13 (M13). Located about 25,000 light-years away in the constellation Hercules, M13 contains around 100,000 stars bound in a glittering spherical mass. It can be found between the bright stars Vega and Arcturus by locating the Keystone asterism, a diamond-shaped pattern of four stars at Hercules’ centre. Sweeping binoculars between Zeta Herculis and Eta Herculis brings this ancient cluster into view, a highlight of the summer sky.&nbsp;<h2>The Hyades and the Pleiades</h2>&nbsp;In the early hours before dawn, the constellation Taurus rises in the east. At its heart lies the Hyades, the closest open cluster to Earth at just 150 light-years away. Shaped like a sideways ‘V’ marking the bull’s face, its brightest star Aldebaran, the red ‘eye’ of Taurus, is a foreground object, only 65 light-years distant.&nbsp;Above the Hyades sits the Pleiades, one of the most famous open clusters, often called the ‘Seven Sisters’. This cluster hosts more than a thousand hot, young stars, but binoculars reveal the seven brightest that dominate its appearance. Positioned about 10 degrees above the Hyades, roughly a fist’s width at arm’s length, the Pleiades are a dazzling reminder of the Milky Way’s star-forming past.&nbsp;

From dense globular swarms to open formations etched into familiar constellations, these stellar gatherings are visible to the naked eye from dark-sky sites.

As mid-August nights draw in, stargazers across the northern hemisphere are being treated to some of the most striking views of the year. Among the highlights are three prominent star clusters, each offering a window into the dynamic and ancient life of the Milky Way. From dense globular swarms to open formations etched into familiar constellations, these stellar gatherings are visible to the naked eye from dark-sky sites, but reveal their full majesty when observed with binoculars or a telescope. What are star clusters? Star clusters are gravitationally bound families of stars born from the same interstellar cloud. They come in two main types: open clusters and globular clusters. Open clusters, such as the Hyades and the Pleiades, are relatively young and often located in the Milky Way’s spiral arms. Their loosely bound nature means they can disperse over millions of years as passing stars tug at their members. Globular clusters, by contrast, are tightly packed spheres containing hundreds of thousands of stars, often among the oldest in the galaxy. These vast systems orbit in the galactic halo, high above and below the Milky Way’s disk, and many shine brightly enough to appear as faint smudges of light to the unaided eye. Roughly 150 globular clusters and more than 1,000 open clusters. Observing them requires patience and technique: allow around 30 minutes for your eyes to adapt to darkness, and use averted vision, looking slightly to the side of the target, to engage the light-sensitive rods of your eyes. While some clusters can be glimpsed without equipment, 10x50 binoculars sharpen the view and begin to resolve brighter stars, and a telescope of six inches or more reveals their intricate structures in detail. The Great Hercules Cluster One of the brightest sights of August evenings is the Great Hercules Cluster, also known as Messier 13 (M13). Located about 25,000 light-years away in the constellation Hercules, M13 contains around 100,000 stars bound in a glittering spherical mass. It can be found between the bright stars Vega and Arcturus by locating the Keystone asterism, a diamond-shaped pattern of four stars at Hercules’ centre. Sweeping binoculars between Zeta Herculis and Eta Herculis brings this ancient cluster into view, a highlight of the summer sky. The Hyades and the Pleiades In the early hours before dawn, the constellation Taurus rises in the east. At its heart lies the Hyades, the closest open cluster to Earth at just 150 light-years away. Shaped like a sideways ‘V’ marking the bull’s face, its brightest star Aldebaran, the red ‘eye’ of Taurus, is a foreground object, only 65 light-years distant. Above the Hyades sits the Pleiades, one of the most famous open clusters, often called the ‘Seven Sisters’. This cluster hosts more than a thousand hot, young stars, but binoculars reveal the seven brightest that dominate its appearance. Positioned about 10 degrees above the Hyades, roughly a fist’s width at arm’s length, the Pleiades are a dazzling reminder of the Milky Way’s star-forming past.

From dense globular swarms to open formations etched into familiar constellations, these stellar gatherings are visible to the naked eye from dark-sky sites.

See 1,00,000 stars at once: The star clusters set to dazzle skywatchers in August 2025

Colson Baker, the actor better known as rapper-turned-rockstar Machine Gun Kelly, said he hoped his semi-autobiographical film about the final days of Cole, a troubled rapper, would inspire others with turbulent lives. 
 
In "Taurus", director Tim Sutton teamed up with Baker for a film that blurs reality and fiction, casting Baker as Cole, in a study of superstardom and its pitfalls. The similarities between Baker and Cole are certainly no coincidence. 
 
"We almost were shying away from it being autobiographical," he told a news conference at the Berlin Film Festival. "It felt like ... it just became me." 
 
Like Baker in his earlier career, Cole is successful but struggles with substance abuse. Maddie Hasson plays Ilana, the protagonist`s personal assistant, who tries to keep him on track while enduring his manic episodes. 
 
But between skipped meetings, constant drunkenness and cocaine addiction, Cole's life spirals out of control. And the film was the therapy he never had, Baker said. 
 
"I got to have ... on-screen therapy for things that I never really dealt with," said Baker, who previously worked with Sutton on the 2021 Western "The Last Son". 
 
Baker's fiancee Megan Fox makes a brief appearance in the film, playing Cole's ex-wife. 
 
The film`s production title was "Good News", but the new title was chosen to match Baker's star sign. 
 
"I`m more hoping that people can watch it and I`m the muse for someone to find their own inspiration and finding a will to live," he said.

Colson Baker, the actor better known as rapper-turned-rockstar Machine Gun Kelly, said he hoped his semi-autobiographical film about the final days of Cole, a troubled rapper, would inspire others with turbulent lives.

Colson Baker, the actor better known as rapper-turned-rockstar Machine Gun Kelly, said he hoped his semi-autobiographical film about the final days of Cole, a troubled rapper, would inspire others with turbulent lives. In "Taurus", director Tim Sutton teamed up with Baker for a film that blurs reality and fiction, casting Baker as Cole, in a study of superstardom and its pitfalls. The similarities between Baker and Cole are certainly no coincidence. "We almost were shying away from it being autobiographical," he told a news conference at the Berlin Film Festival. "It felt like ... it just became me." Like Baker in his earlier career, Cole is successful but struggles with substance abuse. Maddie Hasson plays Ilana, the protagonist`s personal assistant, who tries to keep him on track while enduring his manic episodes. But between skipped meetings, constant drunkenness and cocaine addiction, Cole's life spirals out of control. And the film was the therapy he never had, Baker said. "I got to have ... on-screen therapy for things that I never really dealt with," said Baker, who previously worked with Sutton on the 2021 Western "The Last Son". Baker's fiancee Megan Fox makes a brief appearance in the film, playing Cole's ex-wife. The film`s production title was "Good News", but the new title was chosen to match Baker's star sign. "I`m more hoping that people can watch it and I`m the muse for someone to find their own inspiration and finding a will to live," he said.

Machine Gun Kelly offers himself as muse in Berlinale semi-biopic 'Taurus'

The plaintiff who failed to convince a Los Angeles jury that Led Zeppelin plagiarised the opening guitar passage for its 1971 rock anthem &quot;Stairway to Heaven&quot; plans to appeal the verdict, court papers show.

Michael Skidmore, the trustee for the songs of Randy Wolfe, a member of the band Spirit, on Saturday filed a notice of appeal of the June 23 verdict with the 9th US&nbsp;Circuit Court of Appeals. The court acknowledged receipt of the notice on Monday.

Jurors found that Led Zeppelin&#39;s lead singer Robert Plant and guitarist&nbsp;Jimmy&nbsp;Page did not steal the opening to &quot;Stairway&quot; from Spirit&#39;s instrumental &quot;Taurus,&quot; which was penned in 1967.

Though Plant and Page, who testified at the trial, had access to &quot;Taurus,&quot; jurors found that the song&#39;s riff was not intrinsically similar to the opening of &quot;Stairway.&quot;

Skidmore had argued that Wolfe, who performed as Randy California, deserved a writing credit, and that the trust set up in his name deserved millions of dollars in damages.

Wolfe drowned in 1997.

Oral arguments on Skidmore&#39;s appeal will likely not take place before 2017, court records show. 
 
(Reuters) 
 
&nbsp;

Though Led Zeppelin had access to "Taurus," jurors found that the song's riff was not intrinsically similar to the opening of "Stairway"

The plaintiff who failed to convince a Los Angeles jury that Led Zeppelin plagiarised the opening guitar passage for its 1971 rock anthem "Stairway to Heaven" plans to appeal the verdict, court papers show. Michael Skidmore, the trustee for the songs of Randy Wolfe, a member of the band Spirit, on Saturday filed a notice of appeal of the June 23 verdict with the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals. The court acknowledged receipt of the notice on Monday. Jurors found that Led Zeppelin's lead singer Robert Plant and guitarist Jimmy Page did not steal the opening to "Stairway" from Spirit's instrumental "Taurus," which was penned in 1967. Though Plant and Page, who testified at the trial, had access to "Taurus," jurors found that the song's riff was not intrinsically similar to the opening of "Stairway." Skidmore had argued that Wolfe, who performed as Randy California, deserved a writing credit, and that the trust set up in his name deserved millions of dollars in damages. Wolfe drowned in 1997. Oral arguments on Skidmore's appeal will likely not take place before 2017, court records show. (Reuters)

'Spirit' trustee to appeal "Stairway to Heaven" verdict

Los Angeles: Led Zeppelin musician John Paul Jones testified on Friday that his former bandmate Jimmy Page had never mentioned American band Spirit, whose song Led Zeppelin is being accused of stealing a riff from its 1971 hit &quot;Stairway to Heaven.&quot; 
 
Jones, 70, appeared in federal court in Los Angeles on Friday in a copyright infringement trial in which the British rock band is accused of copying the opening riff to &quot;Stairway to Heaven&quot; from the 1967 instrumental &quot;Taurus&quot; by Spirit. 
 
When asked if guitarist Page, the co-writer of &quot;Stairway,&quot; had ever mentioned Spirit, Jones said no. 
 
Jones also said that he himself had never heard of Spirit until the current lawsuit that was brought in 2014 by Michael Skidmore, a trustee for Randy Wolfe, the late guitarist of Spirit and composer of &quot;Taurus.&quot; 
 
The lawsuit seeks a writing credit for Wolfe on the song and damages in an amount to be proven at trial. 
 
Lawyers for Skidmore on Friday called Michael Einhorn, an expert on music royalties, to testify about damages related to the case. Einhorn said Plant and Page have made $58.5 million in total as composers of &quot;Stairway to Heaven.&quot; 
 
The trial has been closely watched this week as Page, 72, and Plant, 67, attended court, both wearing suits with their long silver hair tied into ponytails. 
 
Page took the witness stand on Wednesday and Thursday and was questioned on whether there were any similarities between &quot;Stairway to Heaven&quot; and &quot;Taurus.&quot; 
 
The British musician said he did not recall hearing &quot;Taurus&quot; until recently, after he had been made aware of comparisons being made between the two songs. 
 
He also testified that the descending chromatic structure of the guitar riff at the center of the lawsuit is heard in numerous other songs, including &quot;Chim Chim Cher-ee&quot; from the 1964 Disney film &quot;Mary Poppins.&quot; 
 
Led Zeppelin&#39;s attorneys on Friday brought in music expert Lawrence Ferrara, who testified that the only similarity between &quot;Taurus&quot; and &quot;Stairway to Heaven&quot; was a &quot;descending chromatic minor line progression.&quot; 
 
Ferrara said that musical element was used 300 years ago, as well as in many pop songs since then. 
 
Earlier in the trial, Skidmore&#39;s lawyers simultaneously showed the jury two video clips of expert Kevin Hanson playing the openings of both songs. Hanson said the two clips &quot;play together as one piece of music. It is not discordant.&quot; 
(Reuters)

The British rock band is accused of copying the opening riff to 'Stairway to Heaven' from the 1967 instrumental 'Taurus' by Spirit

Los Angeles: Led Zeppelin musician John Paul Jones testified on Friday that his former bandmate Jimmy Page had never mentioned American band Spirit, whose song Led Zeppelin is being accused of stealing a riff from its 1971 hit "Stairway to Heaven." Jones, 70, appeared in federal court in Los Angeles on Friday in a copyright infringement trial in which the British rock band is accused of copying the opening riff to "Stairway to Heaven" from the 1967 instrumental "Taurus" by Spirit. When asked if guitarist Page, the co-writer of "Stairway," had ever mentioned Spirit, Jones said no. Jones also said that he himself had never heard of Spirit until the current lawsuit that was brought in 2014 by Michael Skidmore, a trustee for Randy Wolfe, the late guitarist of Spirit and composer of "Taurus." The lawsuit seeks a writing credit for Wolfe on the song and damages in an amount to be proven at trial. Lawyers for Skidmore on Friday called Michael Einhorn, an expert on music royalties, to testify about damages related to the case. Einhorn said Plant and Page have made $58.5 million in total as composers of "Stairway to Heaven." The trial has been closely watched this week as Page, 72, and Plant, 67, attended court, both wearing suits with their long silver hair tied into ponytails. Page took the witness stand on Wednesday and Thursday and was questioned on whether there were any similarities between "Stairway to Heaven" and "Taurus." The British musician said he did not recall hearing "Taurus" until recently, after he had been made aware of comparisons being made between the two songs. He also testified that the descending chromatic structure of the guitar riff at the center of the lawsuit is heard in numerous other songs, including "Chim Chim Cher-ee" from the 1964 Disney film "Mary Poppins." Led Zeppelin's attorneys on Friday brought in music expert Lawrence Ferrara, who testified that the only similarity between "Taurus" and "Stairway to Heaven" was a "descending chromatic minor line progression." Ferrara said that musical element was used 300 years ago, as well as in many pop songs since then. Earlier in the trial, Skidmore's lawyers simultaneously showed the jury two video clips of expert Kevin Hanson playing the openings of both songs. Hanson said the two clips "play together as one piece of music. It is not discordant." (Reuters)

Led Zeppelin trial: Jones testifies, says Page never mentioned Spirit

taurus

Taurus, News on Taurus, stories on Taurus, articles on Taurus, Taurus stories at Wion, Taurus news, Taurus latest news