The nine brightest stars of the Pleiades are named for the Seven Sisters of Greek mythology: Sterope, Merope, Electra, Maia, Taygeta, Celaeno, and Alcyone, along with their parents Atlas and Pleione. As daughters of Atlas, the Hyades were sisters of the Pleiades. The English name of the cluster itself is of Greek origin (Πλειάδες), though of uncertain etymology. Suggested derivations include: from πλεῖν plein, “to sail,” making the Pleiades the “sailing ones”; from πλέος pleos, “full, many”; or from πελειάδες peleiades, “flock of doves.”
| Name | Pronunciation (IPA & respelling) | Designation | Apparent magnitude | Stellar classification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcyone | /ælˈsaɪ.əniː/ al-sy-ə-nee | Eta (25) Tauri | 2.86 | B7IIIe |
| Atlas | /ˈætləs/ at-ləs | 27 Tauri | 3.62 | B8III |
| Electra | /ɨˈlɛktʃrə/ i-lek-trə | 17 Tauri | 3.70 | B6IIIe |
| Maia | /ˈmeɪə/, /ˈmaɪə/ may-ə, my-ə | 20 Tauri | 3.86 | B7III |
| Merope | /ˈmɛrəpiː/ merr-ə-pee | 23 Tauri | 4.17 | B6IVev |
| Taygeta | /teɪˈɪdʒɨtə/ tay-ij-i-tə | 19 Tauri | 4.29 | B6V |
| Pleione | /ˈplaɪ.əniː/ ply-ə-nee | 28 (BU) Tauri | 5.09 (var.) | B8IVpe |
| Celaeno | /sɨˈliːnoʊ/ sə-lee-noh | 16 Tauri | 5.44 | B7IV |
| Sterope, Asterope | /ˈstɛrɵpiː/, /əˈstɛrɵpiː/ (ə)-sterr-ə-pee | 21 and 22 Tauri | 5.64;6.41 | B8Ve/B9V |
| — | — | 18 Tauri | 5.65 | B8V |
Imaging telescopes or lenses: TMB 92SS
Imaging cameras: SBIG ST-8300C, SBIG ST-8300M
Mounts: Sky-Watcher HEQ5
Guiding telescopes or lenses: TMB 92SS
Guiding cameras: QHYCCD QHY5
Focal reducers: Teleskop-Service TS 2.5″ flattener
Software: Maxim DL, photoshop
Filters: Baader Planetarium UV/IR Cut Filter, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2
Accessories: Teleskop-Service OAG 9mm
Dates: Sept. 17, 2012, Sept. 24, 2012
Frames:
Hutech IDAS LPS-P2: 40×600″ bin 1×1
Baader Planetarium UV/IR Cut Filter: 25×600″ bin 1×1
Integration: 10.8 hours
Author: Jacek Bobowik
AstroPhotography of the day by SPONLI 30 June 2014