The
Pleiades: A Cluster of Stars in Taurus The Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters or the Subaru in Japanese, is a beautiful cluster of stars located in the constellation Taurus. It is one of the most easily recognizable objects in the night sky and has been observed and admired by humans since ancient times. The cluster is named after the seven daughters of the Titan Atlas and the ocean nymph Pleione in Greek mythology. According to the story, the sisters were transformed into stars by the god Zeus to escape the advances of the hunter Orion, who also appears in the same constellation. The Pleiades cluster contains hundreds of stars, but only six of them are visible to the naked eye. These stars are named after the mythical sisters: Maia, Alcyone, Electra, Taygeta, Celaeno, and Merope. They are also designated as HD 23557, 23578, 23408, 23850, 23512, and 22367 in astronomical catalogues. The brightest and most famous of the Pleiades stars is Alcyone, which shines at magnitude 2.9 and is about 370 light-years away from Earth. It is also known as Eta Tauri or 25 Tauri in the Bayer designation system. Alcyone is a B-type blue-white main-sequence star that is 7.5 times more massive than the Sun and 2,400 times more luminous. The other visible stars in the Pleiades cluster are also hot blue-white main-sequence stars, but they are smaller and less massive than Alcyone. They range in magnitude from 3.3 to 5.7 and are located between 380 and 440 light-years away from Earth. In addition to the naked-eye stars, the Pleiades cluster contains many fainter stars, brown dwarfs, and white dwarfs that are visible only with telescopes. These stars are thought to have formed together about 100 million years ago from a giant molecular cloud of gas and dust. They are still gravitationally bound to each other and are moving through space as a group. The Pleiades cluster is a popular target for amateur astronomers and astrophotographers because of its beauty and proximity to Earth. It can be seen in the northern hemisphere from late summer to early winter and is especially striking when viewed through binoculars or a small telescope. In addition to its astronomical significance, the Pleiades cluster has also played a role in many cultures and mythologies. In Japan, it is associated with the Subaru car brand because the company's logo depicts the six visible stars of the cluster. In Maori mythology, the stars are known as Matariki and are a sign of the beginning of the New Year. Overall, the Pleiades cluster is a fascinating and captivating object that has inspired generations of people to look up at the sky and wonder about the mysteries of the universe. Whether you observe it for astronomy, mythology, or pure appreciation of its beauty, the Pleiades is a must-see for stargazers everywhere.