Sterope

Sterope is a figure in Greek mythology, commonly identified as one of the Pleiades, the seven sisters who are daughters of Atlas and Pleione. In many sources she is also known as Asterope. The Pleiades are a star cluster in the constellation Taurus and feature prominently in celestial myth.

Mythology: The Pleiades were pursued by Orion and transformed into stars to escape him. Sterope's specific deeds are not extensively recorded; she is primarily known as one of the sisters who together symbolize the cluster. In some traditions, Sterope and Asterope are used interchangeably to refer to the same sister.

Etymology and naming: The name Sterope is a variant of Asterope; both refer to the same Pleiad. Etymology is uncertain, with scholars proposing Greek roots related to brightness or star imagery, but there is no consensus.

Astronomy: In modern astronomy, Sterope (Asterope) is the name used for one of the stars in the Pleiades cluster. The cluster is among the nearest open clusters to Earth and is visible to the naked eye in clear northern skies. It has historical significance in navigation and in the cultural astronomy of many civilizations.

See also: Pleiades; Asterope; Atlas and Pleione.