Pleiades: The Seven Sisters in World Mythology

## The Pleiades: Universal Stars

The Pleiades (M45) is an open star cluster in Taurus, approximately 444 light-years from Earth. Most observers see six stars with the naked eye, though sharp-eyed observers under excellent conditions can count up to 14. The cluster contains over 1,000 confirmed members.

### Physical Properties

| Property | Value |
|----------|-------|
| Distance | 444 light-years |
| Age | ~100 million years |
| Member stars | 1,000+ |
| Apparent diameter | 110 arcminutes (~2 degrees) |
| Brightest star | Alcyone (+2.87) |

### The Seven Sisters (Greek)

The seven brightest Pleiades are named for the daughters of Atlas and Pleione:

| Star | Magnitude | Spectral Type |
|------|-----------|---------------|
| Alcyone | +2.87 | B7 IIIe |
| Atlas | +3.63 | B8 III |
| Electra | +3.70 | B6 IIIe |
| Maia | +3.87 | B8 III |
| Merope | +4.18 | B6 IVe |
| Taygeta | +4.30 | B6 V |
| Pleione | +5.09 (var) | B8 IVpe |
| Celaeno | +5.45 | B7 IV |
| Sterope | +5.76 | B8 V |

In Greek mythology, Orion pursued the Pleiades and their mother Pleione. Zeus transformed them into doves and placed them in the sky. Orion still chases them across the heavens — the Pleiades set before Orion can reach them.

### Worldwide Appearances

- **Japan**: Subaru (meaning "to unite"), the inspiration for the car company's logo of six stars
- **Aboriginal Australia**: The cluster represents a group of girls fleeing from an unwanted suitor, Wurunna
- **Maori (New Zealand)**: Matariki — the Pleiades' heliacal rising marks the Maori New Year
- **Hindu**: Krittika, the six mothers who nursed the war god Kartikeya
- **Cherokee**: Anitsutsa ("The Boys") — seven boys who danced so enthusiastically they rose into the sky
- **Viking/Norse**: Freyja's Hens

### Why So Universal?

The Pleiades' universality likely stems from three factors: they are visible from virtually every populated region on Earth, they are bright enough to be immediately noticeable, and their heliacal rising (first appearance before sunrise) coincides with important agricultural or seasonal transitions in many cultures.

### Observing the Pleiades

Binoculars are the ideal instrument — the cluster spans 2 degrees (four full Moon widths), too wide for most telescopes. Under dark skies, long-exposure photographs reveal wispy blue reflection nebulosity around the brighter members, caused by interstellar dust the cluster is currently passing through.