Most people can see only six stars in the Matariki cluster with the unaided eye. This has influenced traditional interpretations, and some iwi (tribes) recognise six main stars:
1. Matariki
2. Tupu-ā-rangi
3. Tupu-ā-nuku
4. Waitī
5. Waitā
6. Ururangi
However, in both Māori traditions and astronomical observations, the number of stars associated with Matariki varies significantly.
The Seven Sisters
One of the most widely recognized names for the Pleiades cluster, both in New Zealand and Europe, is The Seven Sisters. In Greek mythology, the Pleiades were the seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione, pursued across the sky by the hunter Orion.
Similarly, in Indigenous Australian traditions, the Pleiades are also depicted as seven sisters, with a hunter figure—often associated with Orion—chasing them across the heavens.
World’s oldest story
A fascinating study suggests that the story of the Pleiades, known as the Seven Sisters, could be one of the oldest surviving myths, dating back 100,000 years. Shared across Greek and Indigenous Australian cultures, this legend may have originated as early humans migrated out of Africa, carrying their celestial stories with them.
The study hypothesizes that in ancient times, the star Pleione—a faint companion to Atlas—was more visible, possibly explaining why the cluster was traditionally depicted as having seven bright stars.
Ray Norris, an astrophysicist from Western Sydney University, suggests that these myths could be rooted in early astronomical observations, as the stars Pleione and Atlas were likely more distinct in the past. While some scepticism remains, the hypothesis highlights how ancient stories about the night sky may have been passed down and adapted across cultures for tens of thousands of years.
Matariki and its Own Story
In Māori tradition, a widely known legend describes Matariki as a mother surrounded by her six daughters: Tupu-ā-nuku, Tupu-ā-rangi, Waipunarangi, Waitī, Waitā, Ururangi (Te ono o Matariki). According to Te Papa, this interpretation of Matariki is one of the most commonly shared versions today. The Auckland Council’s guide to spotting the Matariki stars also supports this view, emphasizing both their cultural significance and astronomical importance (How to spot Matariki by Auckland Council).
The seven Māori sisters
Since the early 2000s, Te Papa has played a key role in promoting Matariki, producing educational resources that depict Matariki as a mother surrounded by her daughters. This interpretation has been widely embraced, especially in children’s literature, where books featuring this narrative have become common.
In 2006, Carter Observatory was consulted to provide guidance on a Matariki resource, which also included references to the Seven Sisters. However, while this version of Matariki is well known, other tribal stories offer different interpretations.
For example, some iwi describe Matariki as Mata Ariki—the Eye of the Ariki (chief)—or as the Eye of Tāwhirimātea, the god of winds and storms. This raises an important question:
Why do different stories exist about Matariki, a star cluster so fundamental in Māori traditions?
Could these variations be a result of post-colonial influences, where missionaries and European perspectives introduced new narratives that reshaped traditional Māori knowledge? Rangi Matamua, in his book Matariki: The Star of the Year, explores this very question, examining how oral traditions may have shifted over time.
Origins of the Name ‘Pleiades’
Interestingly, the Greek name Pleiades is thought to derive from their mythical mother, Pleione, meaning “daughters of Pleione.” However, Robin Hard, in The Routledge Handbook of Greek Mythology, suggests that the name of the star cluster likely came first, and the character of Pleione was later invented to explain it.
This pattern of naming celestial objects through mythology is seen across many cultures, reinforcing how astronomy and storytelling have long been intertwined.
The nine stars of Matariki
In recent years, modern interpretations of Matariki have expanded beyond the Seven Sisters myth, incorporating additional stars such as Pōhutukawa and Hiwa-i-te-rangi. This shift reflects an effort by Māori scholars to revive and share a more comprehensive understanding of Matariki, moving away from post-colonial influences and aligning with traditional Māori lore.
One of the leading voices in this revival is Rangi Matamua, whose research explores the cultural and astronomical significance of Matariki from Māori perspectives. According to his work, Matariki consists of nine stars, each with a distinct role:
1. Matariki
2. Tupu-ā-rangi
3. Tupu-ā-nuku
4. Waitī
5. Waitā
6. Waipuna-ā-rangi
7. Ururangi
8. Pōhutukawa
9. Hiwa-i-te-rangi
The 36 stars of the cluster
The first recorded telescopic observation of the Pleiades was made by Galileo Galilei in 1610. Using one of the earliest telescopes, he was able to see far more stars in the cluster than were visible to the unaided eye. While most people can see only six to seven stars, Galileo documented around 36 stars within the cluster—revealing its true nature as a dense grouping of stars rather than just a small handful of bright ones.
His observations marked a significant step forward in our understanding of the night sky, showing that many celestial objects contain far more detail than can be seen with the unaided eye.
M45
In 1771, French astronomer Charles Messier documented the Pleiades cluster in his famous catalogue of comet-like objects, designating it as M45. However, the number 45 does not refer to the number of stars in the cluster—it simply marks its position as the forty-fifth object in Messier’s list.
Messier’s catalogue, originally intended to help astronomers distinguish permanent deep-sky objects from comets, became one of the most important reference lists in astronomy. M45 remains one of the most recognizable and well-loved objects in the night sky, continuing to captivate both astronomers and stargazers alike.
The Gaia Data Release: Mapping Matariki in Unprecedented Detail
The Gaia telescope, launched by the European Space Agency (ESA) in 2013, is a space observatory designed for astrometry—the precise measurement of the positions, distances, and motions of stars. Gaia’s primary mission is to construct a highly detailed 3D map of our galaxy, the Milky Way, by observing over a billion stars with unprecedented accuracy.
Thanks to Gaia’s precise data, we now know that the Pleiades (Matariki) cluster contains far beyond what is visible to the unaided eye or even early telescopes like Galileo’s. This discovery highlights the true scale and richness of the cluster, reinforcing its significance in both astronomical research and cultural traditions.
There are approximately 1380 Matariki stars.
