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Pleiad

A pleiad is a term used to denote a member of the Pleiades star cluster in the constellation Taurus, or more specifically any one of the cluster’s seven brightest stars. The name derives from the Pleiades of Greek mythology, the seven sisters who are said to be the daughters of Atlas and Pleione.

Astronomical characteristics: The Pleiades, also known as Messier 45 (M45), is an open star cluster about 440

Mythology and naming: In Greek mythology the Pleiades are the Seven Sisters: Maia, Electra, Alcyone, Celaeno,

light-years
from
Earth.
It
lies
in
Taurus
and
contains
hundreds
of
confirmed
members,
dominated
by
bright
blue-white
B-type
stars.
The
cluster
spans
roughly
13
light-years
across
and
is
estimated
to
be
about
100
million
years
old.
It
is
visible
to
the
naked
eye
and
is
one
of
the
nearest
and
most
easily
seen
open
clusters,
often
appearing
as
a
small
fuzzy
grouping
in
dark
skies.
Taygeta,
Asterope,
and
Merope,
daughters
of
Atlas
and
Pleione.
In
astronomy
the
term
pleiad
can
refer
to
any
member
of
the
Pleiades,
or
to
the
cluster
as
a
whole.
The
cluster
has
played
a
notable
role
in
various
cultures
as
a
celestial
landmark
and
has
influenced
literary
and
scientific
naming
beyond
astronomy.