When I look in the sky on a clear night I can see the 2 dippers, but also a tiny one as well.What is this?

Question

When I look in the sky on a clear night I can see the 2 dippers, but also a tiny one as well.What is this?

Answer 1

it is calloed pleiades

The Pleiades (pronounced /ˈpliːədiːz/ or /ˈplaɪədiːz/), also known as M45, the Seven Sisters, Seven Stars, SED, Matariki (New Zealand), or Subaru (Japan), is an open cluster in the constellation of Taurus. It is among the nearest star clusters, and is probably the best known, and is certainly the most obvious to the naked eye. It is sometimes referred to as the Maia Nebula, perhaps erroneously considering that the reflection nebulosity surrounding Maia is intrinsic

The cluster is dominated by hot blue stars which have formed within the last 100 million years. Dust that forms a faint reflection nebulosity around the brightest stars was thought at first to be left over from the formation of the cluster, but is now known to be an unrelated dust cloud that the stars are currently passing through. Astronomers estimate that the cluster will survive for about another 250 million years, after which it will have dispersed due to gravitational interactions with its galactic neighborhood.

Answer 2

you're most likely seeing the 2 dippers and part of dracos...

http://www.astrored.org/astrofotos/d/610...

Answer 3

The Pleiades?  I used to think that was the little dipper.

Answer 4

Well, as other answerers have stated, the open cluster "the pleadies" (M45) is dipper shaped.  But it is unlikely that this is what you are referring to.  The pleadies are not significantly close to either the big or little dipper in the sky, and take up a very small portion of the sky.  It is probably a part of Draco that you are seeing as this third "dipper."  Especially if you are looking in the general direction of the other two dippers.  Sepending on your latitude, Draco, Ursa Major (the constellation that the Big Dipper lies in), and Ursa Minor (the constellation that the Little Dipper resides) are all circumpolar (never setting from viewer far enough north).  

You could get a much more accurate answer if we knew your location, the time of the viewing, and direction you are looking, cause it is even possible that Lyra could be considered "dipper shaped" (although with an incredibly short handle).

Answer 5

Well, it's not up at night right now, but perhaps you're seeing the Pleiades? It's a star cluster that resembles a dipper shape to me. The Pleiades are currently rising just before dawn, I'd imagine (I'm not a morning person) so perhaps that's what you're seeing.

If you're seeing it right now at night (pre-midnight) then there's a shape in Sagittarius that resembles a dipper as well. If you're looking South in the evening, and it's near brilliant Jupiter, then that could be what you're seeing, although I wouldn't call it "tiny."