Home space resource The Science of Matariki: Exploring the Pleiades Star Cluster

The Science of Matariki: Exploring the Pleiades Star Cluster

Matariki, a seasonal marker in our winter sky, is also one of the closest and most recognisable star clusters to Earth. Known internationally as the Pleiades, this young group of hot blue stars offers a powerful way to explore astronomy, stellar evolution and our place in the Milky Way Galaxy. This resource uses Matariki as a gateway into scientific ideas such as galactic structure, star clusters, the scale of the Universe and the lifecycle of stars, while connecting these concepts to observation and humanity’s long relationship with the night sky.

Years 1-3, Years 4-6

This activity is part of our live SpacewardBound sessions delivered in schools across New Zealand.

Earth & Space Science, Nature of Science

Astronomy

60-90 minutes

Teacher guide

Why is this good to know

Understanding the science of Matariki helps students connect familiar stars in the night sky to broader scientific ideas about galaxies, stellar evolution, and humanity’s place in the Universe. At a time when many young people experience the world primarily through screens, astronomy encourages careful observation, curiosity and a deeper awareness of the sky above them.

Learning outcomes

investigate the Pleiades as a nearby open star cluster within the Milky Way Galaxy

__________

explore how astronomers use observation and scientific tools to understand stars and distances in space

__________

develop an understanding of stellar evolution, star colour and the scale of the Universe

Prior knowledge

none

Matariki’s arrival is the perfect time to look into the science behind the Pleiades star cluster.

Our galactic neigbourhood

Matariki is part of our Galaxy, the Milky Way, and is located within the Orion Arm. This makes it one of the closest star clusters to Earth. At approximately 430-440 light years away, its visibility and significance provide a rich scientific exploration topic.

Here are some examples of the slides included in the presentation

A color magnitude diagram for the Pleiades (M45), displaying scattered data points in a gradient from blue to red based on brightness and color indices. The x-axis represents 'bp-rp' in magnitudes, while the y-axis indicates 'M' in magnitudes as well. — A Colour-Magnitude diagram for M45, by Sam Leske

The Pleiades are hot, young, blue and they like to dance. This slide includes a painting of the Pleiades by Florida painter Hellen Gerro – used with permission.

A photo of Galileo's first telescope at Museo Galileo in Florence and Galileo's drawings of the Pleiades star cluster from Sidereus Nuncius. Image courtesy of the History of Science Collections, University of Oklahoma Libraries. — Galileo’s first telescope – Museo Galileo, Florence, photo: Hari and Galileo’s drawings of the Pleiades star cluster from Sidereus Nuncius, University of Oklahoma Libraries.

Our Place in the Universe

Introducing students to the concept of our “galactic address” can be a starting point for discussions on the scale of the Universe and our place within it. It’s an opportunity to explore how vast space is and how we use coordinates, like those for our solar system in the Orion Arm, to map it.

The Science of Star Clusters

Matariki is a young cluster, formed about 150 million years ago, during the time of the dinosaurs. Its stars are known for their blue color, which indicates their hot temperature. Discussing the lifecycle of stars through the lens of Matariki can help students understand stellar formation, evolution, and the factors that influence a star’s color and temperature.

GOOGLE SLIDES PRESENTATION – THE SCIENCE OF MATARIKI

Right now, Matariki is a public holiday that occurs yearly for everyone. However, Matariki the Māori New Year tradition, is observed a bit differently by different tribes. This presentation talks about the seasonal sky, asterisms and various ways in which Matariki is calculated.

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This activity is part of our live SpacewardBound sessions delivered directly in schools. We run it as a full interactive experience using our mobile planetarium and hands-on activities.

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