Pleiades | EarthSky

Several bright blue stars surrounded with glowing blue wisps, with many fainter stars in the background.

Lost sisters of the Pleiades are scattered across the sky

Astronomers have discovered that the Pleiades star cluster has more than 3,000 sibling stars that originated from the same giant molecular cloud.

Large, complex clouds of blue gas scattered with dozens of bright stars, in a starfield.

The Pleiades – or 7 Sisters – known around the world

The Pleiades star cluster - aka the 7 Sisters or M45 - is visible from almost every part of the globe. It looks like a tiny, misty dipper of stars.

A dozen bright stars surrounded by wispy, intense blue clouds and background stars.

Why is the Pleiades star cluster called the 7 Sisters?

To most people,, the Pleiades cluster looks like a tiny misty dipper of six little stars. Yet the Pleiades is sometimes called the Seven Sisters. Why?

Starry sky and the shape of a mountain below.

Moon near the Pleiades before dawn on July 13 and 14

Watch for the moon near the Pleiades - a beautiful open star cluster - on the mornings of July 13 and 14, 2023. Nearby you'll find the bright star Aldebaran.

The moon and the Pleiades on February 25 and 26.

Moon near Pleiades, and more, February 25 and 26

Watch for the moon near Pleiades - a beautiful star cluster - on the evenings of February 25 and 26. Nearby you'll find Mars and the bright star Aldebaran.

Steep green ecliptic line with 2 positions of moon, and also Pleiades, Mars, and Aldebaran.

Moon near Mars and Pleiades, January 2 and 3

Look for the moon near Mars and the Pleiades star cluster on the evenings of January 2 and 3, 2023. The red star Aldebaran is also nearby.

Chart with green ecliptic line, the moon on November 8 and 9, with Pleiades, Aldebaran and Mars nearby.

Moon near Pleiades and Mars on eclipse night

Find the moon near Pleiades and Mars on the evenings of November 7, 8 and 9, 2022. The moon undergoes a total lunar eclipse on the morning of November 8.

Chart: Steep green ecliptic line with Mars, 2 positions of the moon, and Aldebaran near it.

Moon, Mars, Pleiades, more, on October 13 and 14

Moon, Mars, Pleiades ... and Aldebaran! Look for them all, overnight on October 13-14, and on October 14-15, 2022. Notice how bright Mars is now.

See Mars and Pleiades on August 10, morning

On the morning of August 10, 2022, look for Mars in the sunrise direction near the beautiful Pleiades star cluster. Nearby is reddish Aldebaran.

Star chart of Orion at left with the star Aldebaran, Pleiades at right, moon passing between, dates in white text.

Moon passes the Pleiades and Aldebaran, March 7 – 9

The moon passes between the Pleiades star cluster and the Hyades star cluster - with its reddish star Aldebaran - in the constellation Taurus on March 8.

3 positions of moon along line of ecliptic near Pleiades and constellation Taurus.

Moon, Aldebaran, Pleiades late night September 25 to 27

Late at night on these next several nights - September 25, 26 and 27, 2021 - watch for the moon, Aldebaran, Pleiades.

Red dot on black background near cluster of stars.

Photographs of historic Mars and Pleiades conjunction

On March 3, 2021, the red planet Mars and Pleiades star cluster in Taurus will appear close together on the sky's dome. The two won't get this close again until 2038! See photos of the big event.

Chart of constellation Taurus with stars, Mars, and Pleiades labeled.

Closest Mars-Pleiades conjunction until 2038

This year - on March 3, 2021 - the red planet Mars and the Pleiades star cluster - also known as the Seven Sisters - stage their closest conjunction on the sky's dome until February 4, 2038.

Photos: Venus and the Pleiades meet

This week, Venus - the brightest planet and dazzling "evening star" - will pass the beautiful Pleiades star cluster, also known as the Seven Sisters. Look west after sunset! Venus and the Pleiades meet only every 8 years. Photos here.

Venus and the Pleiades cluster after sunset April 2, 2020.

Don’t miss Venus and the Pleiades! Their conjunction is April 3

The Venus-Pleiades conjunction is April 3. That's when Venus passes the Pleiades' brightest star, Alcyone. Any evening around then will be lovely!

Crescent moon near the Pleaides cluster and the star Aldebaran .

Moon sweeps past Pleiades and Aldebaran March 1 and 2

On March 1 and 2, 2020, the waxing moon is near the bright red star Aldebaran in Taurus the Bull, and the Pleiades star cluster. Dazzling Venus is nearby.

Orion, the Bull, the Pleiades and a meteor

A long bright meteor, too, and on the night of the elusive Unicorn meteor shower ... but not a Unicorn meteor.

Come to know the Pleiades, or 7 Sisters

At this time of year, for all of us around the globe, the Pleiades star cluster culminates - reaches its highest point in the sky - around midnight.

Moon swing s by Mars and the Pleiades cluster

Moon, Mars, Pleiades on April 7 to 9

After sunset April 7-9, 2019 - watch the young crescent moon wax larger day by day as it sweeps past the red planet Mars, famous Pleiades star cluster and the red star Aldebaran.

Moon passes Mars, Pleiades, Aldebaran March 10-12

On March 10, 11 and 12, 2019, let the moon be your guide to the red planet Mars and the constellation Taurus' two major signposts: Aldebaran and the Pleiades cluster.

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Lost sisters of the Pleiades are scattered across the sky

The Pleiades – or 7 Sisters – known around the world

Why is the Pleiades star cluster called the 7 Sisters?

Moon near the Pleiades before dawn on July 13 and 14

Moon near Pleiades, and more, February 25 and 26

Moon near Mars and Pleiades, January 2 and 3

Moon near Pleiades and Mars on eclipse night

Moon, Mars, Pleiades, more, on October 13 and 14

See Mars and Pleiades on August 10, morning

Moon passes the Pleiades and Aldebaran, March 7 – 9

Moon, Aldebaran, Pleiades late night September 25 to 27

Photographs of historic Mars and Pleiades conjunction

Closest Mars-Pleiades conjunction until 2038

Photos: Venus and the Pleiades meet

Don’t miss Venus and the Pleiades! Their conjunction is April 3

Moon sweeps past Pleiades and Aldebaran March 1 and 2

Orion, the Bull, the Pleiades and a meteor

Come to know the Pleiades, or 7 Sisters

Moon, Mars, Pleiades on April 7 to 9

Moon passes Mars, Pleiades, Aldebaran March 10-12