Which Milky Way open cluster is also called the Seven Sisters?
Answer
Pleiades
Answer
Pleiades
The Milky Way open cluster also called the Seven Sisters is the Pleiades.
The Pleiades, or Messier 45, is a young open star cluster in the constellation Taurus. To the unaided eye, several of its brightest stars appear close together, although observers with especially dark skies may see more than seven. The name “Seven Sisters” comes from ancient mythology and reflects the traditional grouping rather than a strict count of visible stars.
The cluster contains hot, blue B-type stars and is surrounded by faint reflection nebulosity: dust that scatters the stars’ light. Modern Gaia measurements place the Pleiades about 136 parsecs, or roughly 444 light-years, from Earth. Its estimated age is around 125 million years, making it far younger than the Sun.
The Pleiades is often confused with the Hyades because both are in Taurus. They are distinct clusters: the Pleiades is younger and farther away, while the Hyades is the nearer group that forms the bull’s head. Subaru’s logo and name also reference the Pleiades, whose Japanese name is “Subaru.”
Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026