Astronomers have announced an incredible new finding regarding the Pleiades. This beautiful star cluster is otherwise known as the Seven Sisters or Yugarilya in Warangu tradition. This extensively-studied star cluster, located in the constellation of Taurus, has mystified astronomers and cultural historians for centuries. Recent studies revealed an enormous and elusive stellar halo around the Pleiades. This second find means that the Pleiades is actually four times smaller than we have assumed all along. These new results lay bare the depths of our understanding about this iconic cluster. They underscore the importance of play in all human cultures.
The research team employed data from the European Space Agency’s GAIA telescope and NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). Those latest discoveries by Billampo and colleagues are the quantitatively confirmed 3,091 stars in what they dubbed the “Greater Pleiades Complex.” This large kinematic sample reveals the complex relationships between stars in the cluster and stars outside of it. You might be able to find the Pleiades in the night sky to the west of Orion (the Saucepan). In north temperate latitudes, its visibility is greatest in the early morning hours of November, and it’s readily visible from mid-December to March.
The Cosmic Significance of the Pleiades
The Pleiades is not just another pretty star group, it’s a dynamic and relatively young stellar nursery. This cluster spins fast — it completes one full rotation in less than 12 days. This fast rotators youth indicator makes these young stars an important subject for modern astrophysics.
“The Pleiades is one of, if not the most, well-studied group of stars that exists,” – Mr. Boyle
The new research highlights how difficult it is to know who really belongs to this cluster. The major stars of the Pleiades are pretty prominent in the night sky. They happen to be surrounded by thousands of unrelated nearby stars. This co-mingling creates a major challenge for astronomers to isolate real cluster members based on position and motion alone.
“Because the Pleiades is surrounded by thousands of unrelated stars, it’s difficult to isolate true cluster members using position and motion alone,” – Mr. Boyle
This work-in-progress research highlights just how unique the Pleiades are — as an incredible scientific phenomenon and cultural inspiration.
Cultural Connections to the Seven Sisters
For most Indigenous Australian groups, the Seven Sisters remain deeply important —both spiritual and cultural forms abound. The Seven Sisters Songline is an extremely important story in Australia. It bridges many of the different First Nations communities across the province through their unique yet connected oral traditions and histories. Susie Betts, an advocate for preserving Indigenous culture, tells us that these stars represent kinship.
“These stars were their star kin, their star brothers and sisters; they were a part of their family,” – Susie Betts
Ultimately, the interconnection between the stars and cultural identity shown here is just one example of how astronomy reaches beyond what can be seen. For the majority of us, as for Betts, these celestial bodies are a fundamental part of everyday life.
“They weren’t separate at all and that’s what I found I connected to; that I found so comforting that wherever I went I was home,” – Susie Betts
Such sentiments highlight how deeply embedded the Pleiades are in human culture, circumscribing identities and histories that span across continents.
The Pleiades Through Time
The Pleiades is of great historical importance. Since the Bronze Age, artists and writers have exalted this constellation through their creations. It is, of course, central to global mythology. Anecdotes from Indigenous Australian cultures and Māori populations in New Zealand show the cultural significance of this mischief-maker. Andrew Boyle emphasizes that this vibrant web of stories deepens our understanding of science while fostering a deeper respect for our culture.
“The Pleiades has been recognized by human cultures for thousands of years — it appears in mythology and folklore from around the world,” – Andrew Boyle
The research team found that gravitational perturbations from other galaxies and celestial objects play a significant role in how star clusters evolve. Their new study helps illuminate these long-term impacts.
“As time passes, the gravity of the galaxy and passing objects in space push and pull on the group of stars and break them apart,” – Mr. Boyle
Thus, while the Pleiades stands as a beacon in our night sky, it simultaneously serves as a reminder of the fragility of celestial formations.
