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The Question
(Submitted January 27, 1998)
Where are the Pleiades located in the sky and the myths that go along with
their formation?
The Answer
The Pleiades are a group of bright white stars that are in
the constellation of Taurus. You can find them by following the
belt of Orion through a reddish star called Aldebaran. To help find
Orion and other constellations see:
http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/constellations.html (http://www.astro.wisc.edu/%7Edolan/constellations/constellations.html)
and
Sky & Telescope gives maps of the sky for each month:
http://skyandtelescope.com/
As for myths, I know that in Greek mythology the Pleiades are
the seven sisters who are pursued by Orion. Also in Hindu mythology
they are the wives of the seven sages. Either because of their bright
white color or some cross-talk between different cultures they have
acquired a female set of myths.
Stepping outside the classical mythology, there are loads of stories
about the Pleiades! For instance, the following is from the Monache
Indians in central California. A group of women who love onions
more than their husbands enter the sky to become the Pleiades. Their
husbands pursue them and become the constellation Taurus. One source
for Native American stories about the Pleiades is the book, "They Dance
in the Sky" by Jean Monroe and Ray Williamson. Once again it is
interesting that these stars are connected with women.
Enjoy,
Jeff Silvis and Jim Lochner
For Ask a High-Energy Astronomer
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