Today we focus on the world of astronomy to describe a well-known group of stars that is dedicated to our planet. It's about the pleiadesIt is an open star cluster near planet Earth, known as the 7 Cosmic Sisters. Its pre-Hispanic name is derived from the seven goats. It is an open cluster that is fairly easy to identify in the night sky, given its remarkable proximity to Earth. It can be seen in the northern hemisphere in the constellation Taurus at a distance of approximately 450 light-years.
In this article we are going to tell you all the characteristics, origin and mythology of the Pleiades.
Key features
It is a relatively young star cluster since the stars are only about 20 million years old. In the open cluster we can find around 500-1000 stars with hot spectral type B characteristics all located in the constellation of Taurus. We are going to describe the main types of stars that we can find in the pleiades and their brightness:
- Alcyone: It is the brightest star of all the Pleiades stars and is located at a distance of about 440 light-years from our planet. Its apparent magnitude is +2.85, and it is a star almost 1000 times brighter than the Sun, and about 10 times larger.
- Atlas: It is the second brightest star in the Pleiades cluster and is located at a distance of 440 light-years, the same as Alcyone. It has an apparent magnitude of +3.62.
- Electra: It is the third star in order of brightness and is also located at the same distance as the other two. Its apparent magnitude is +3.72.
- Maia: It is one of the stars that has a bluish-white color and is located at a distance of about 440 light years with an apparent magnitude of +3.87.
- merope: In order of brightness it is the fifth and it is a subgiant star that has a bluish white color with an apparent magnitude of +4.14, located more or less at the same distance as the rest.
- Taygeta: it is a binary star that has an apparent magnitude of +4.29 and is somewhat closer to the solar system, being at a distance of 422 light years.
- Pleione: It is a star located at a similar distance to the rest and is about 190 times more luminous than the sun. It has a radius 3.2 times larger and its rotation speed is about 100 times faster than the sun's.
- Celaeno: It is a bluish-white subgiant binary star. Its apparent magnitude is +5.45, and it is located at a distance of 440 light-years.
Mythology of the Pleiades
As you might expect, most of the constellations in the firmament have their mythology. There are various mythologies about the Pleiades that speak of their existence in celestial space. One of these mythological stories is where the Pleiades mean doves and it is said that the seven sisters are the daughters of the Oceanid Pleione and Atlas. The sisters were Maia, Electra, Taygete, Asterope, Merope, Alcyone, and Celaenus; they were turned into stars by the god Zeus. as a way to protect them from Orion who was pursuing them, it is even said that to this day Orion chases the sisters in the night sky.
Legend also tells of several Olympian gods, such as Zeus, Poseidon and Ares, who were seduced by the attractiveness of these sisters and their relationships bore fruit. Maia had a son with Zeus, and he was named Hermes; Celeno had Lycus, Nycteus and Euphemus with Poseidon; Alcyone also gave Poseidon a son, whom they named Hyrieus; Electra had two sons with Zeus, whom she named Dardanus and Iasion; Steropes had Oenomaus with Ares; Taygete had Lacedaemon with Zeus; being only Merope the only one of the Pleiadian sisters who did not maintain relations with the Gods, on the contrary, only had relations with a mortal, Sisyphus.
Another part of mythology tells that the Pleiades sisters decided to take their own lives because they felt very depressed with everything that had happened to their father Atlas and the loss of their sisters the Hyades. When they were about to commit suicide, Zeus decided to give them immortality and He placed them in the sky so that he could turn them into stars. Hence the mythology of this grouping of stars in the sky is born.
Observation of the Pleiades
As we mentioned before, the Pleiades are quite close to our planet, so they are very easy to spot in the sky. It is a star cluster considered easy to locate. Its main stars are brighter and can be easily seen. A reference point for locating the star cluster is to use the Taurus constellation guide so that the Pleiades are easy to recognize, since they are located within it.
Normally, only six stars can be identified with the naked eye, but on a clear night, more can be identified. To locate the Pleiades, you can use Orion as another guide. It's one of the most popular constellations and serves as a guide to reach this star cluster. They are located above Orion, crossing the constellation Taurus, and a group of bluish stars can be observed.
Observational studies
The most beautiful part of the stargazing, known as the peak, is during the month of November. This is when it can be seen at its most beautiful. If observed through a professional telescope it can be clearly distinguished that they are surrounded by a material with a blue color in which the light of the stars is reflected and surrounded by a nebula.
This star cluster is quite interesting for the study of modern astronomy, which is why it continues to be part of astronomical research today that revolves around the life expectancy and future of these beautiful stars.