The constellation of the Pleiades (Messier 45) is an open cluster of stars. This is one of the objects closest to our planet that can be seen with the naked eye. The Pleiades are located in the constellation Taurus and are clearly visible in winter in the northern hemisphere and in summer in the southern hemisphere of the Earth.
This constellation has been known since antiquity. This is a physically connected star group, which is located 135 parsecs from our planet. The Pleiades is a constellation that is about 12
light years in diameter and consists of almost 500 stars. Most of them belong to the hot blue luminaries, of which 14 can be seen without the use of special equipment. The total stellar mass of the cluster is approximately equal to the mass of 800 Suns. The constellation Pleiades includes a large number of brown dwarfs, whose mass does not exceed 8% of the Sun. For the emergence of a
fusion chain
reaction, this is clearly not enough. Such celestial bodies constantly attract the attention of astronomers.
The constellation Pleiades also includes several white dwarfs. The cluster has a relatively small age. Therefore, his stars could hardly have time to evolve into white dwarfs in a natural way. This process lasts several billion years. There is a theory that luminaries of large mass in binary systems could transfer part of the stellar matter to their companions, turning into white dwarfs in a short time.
The constellation Pleiades has an approximate age of 75-150 million years. Over time, the luminaries will cease to be bound by gravity, because their speed is higher than the speed of the Pleiades cluster itself. The constellation then simply disintegrates. This should happen within 250 million years. Galactic spiral arms will help speed up this process.
Under good observing conditions, photographs show that the Pleiades constellation has some features of a nebula. This effect is due to the reflection of the blue light of hot stars from dust. Previously, it was believed that it represents the remains of the substance from which the luminaries of the cluster were formed. However, during its existence, such an accumulation of particles would be dispersed by the pressure of stellar radiation. Therefore, most likely, the Pleiades at the moment pass through the dust-saturated region of outer space.
The nine brightest luminaries of this cluster were given the names of the Pleiades sisters, as well as their parents: Sterop, Electra, Alkion, Maya, Keleno, Merop, Tayget, Pleion and Atlant. Due to the fact that the constellation can be seen without special equipment, it is reflected in the cultures of different nationalities.
The ancient Greeks personified him with mythological sisters. The Celts associated the Pleiades with rites of burial and sorrow. The cluster also entered the ancient calendars of Central America and Mexico. In Japan, the constellation is known as the Turtle (Subaru). Sioux Indians associated the cluster with the Devil's Tower. In Chinese culture, the Pleiades symbolized the head of the mythical western White Tiger. In Hinduism, this cluster of stars is one of the most significant. It symbolizes perseverance and anger. According to the Vedas, the Pleiads of rules Agni is the god of flame.