Pleiades Star Cluster Could Be 20 Times Larger Than Expected

Key Takeaways

1. The Pleiades star cluster is now believed to be 20 times larger than previously thought.
2. It is located about 444 light years away from Earth, with only 5 to 11 stars visible to the naked eye.
3. Research using TESS and Gaia satellites has revealed that many Pleiades stars are spread across various parts of the universe.
4. Scientists can determine the ages of stars by analyzing their rotation speeds, with younger stars spinning faster.
5. Researchers are now investigating the origins of our Sun, potentially linking it to the Pleiades cluster.

If you ever looked up at the night sky, you’ve seen the Pleiades, a cluster of shining stars. However, a new study suggests that this group might actually be 20 times bigger than we previously thought.

Distance and Visibility

The Pleiades cluster is situated about 444 light years from our planet, and it has been recognized for thousands of years. Yet, with the naked eye, we can see only between five and eleven of its stars. Thanks to the TESS and Gaia satellites, researchers have found that many stars from this cluster are located in various parts of the universe.

Birth and Evolution of Stars

Stars are formed in these clusters, but they drift apart over millions of years. By looking at the rotation speeds of known stars, scientists can determine their ages because younger stars spin faster than older ones. This is how they reached their new conclusions. Andrew Boyle, a researcher from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, expressed this insight:

“This study changes how we see the Pleiades, not just seven bright stars, but thousands of long-lost siblings scattered across the whole sky.”

The Sun’s Origins

Moreover, while many stars from the Pleiades are dispersed throughout space, scientists are now focusing on our Sun. There are still many unanswered questions about where it came from. With the methods they have developed, it could be possible to identify the cluster that birthed our star.

The Astrophysical Journal, Eurekalert.

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