Alkion

Alkion, also known as Alcyone, is a star in the constellation of Pleiades, which is part of the larger constellation Taurus. It is one of the brightest stars in the Pleiades cluster and is easily visible to the naked eye. Alkion is a blue-white subgiant star, which means it is in a stage of stellar evolution where it has exhausted the hydrogen in its core and is beginning to expand and cool. The star is approximately 440 light-years away from Earth and has a luminosity about 1,000 times that of the Sun. Alkion is also a variable star, meaning its brightness fluctuates over time. This variability is due to the star's pulsations, which cause its size and temperature to change. The Pleiades cluster, of which Alkion is a part, is one of the nearest star clusters to Earth and is known for its prominent role in various cultures and mythologies. The cluster is also a popular target for astronomical observation due to its proximity and the large number of bright stars it contains.