In June and July, when it is nighttime in Antarctica, the Pleiades remain too close to the Sun and just below the horizon. When they finally move farther from the Sun, it is daytime in Antarctica, making them impossible to see. Since very few people traditionally live in Antarctica—except for those on scientific missions—anyone celebrating Matariki there would need to follow the officially set date rather than observe it astronomically.
For the rest of the world, the Pleiades are always visible because they lie close to the ecliptic, the path of the Sun across the sky, which also marks the plane of our solar system. The cluster is located just one degree from the ecliptic—about the width of your pinky finger at arm’s length.
In Aotearoa, the Pleiades are called Matariki when they appear in the morning sky in June. Watch our video below for a guide to spotting Matariki, or keep reading for detailed written instructions.
How far away are the Pleiades?
The Pleiades are our galactic neighbours.
The Pleiades are one of our closest galactic neighbours. While not the nearest star cluster, they are still relatively close in astronomical terms, sitting at a distance of 432 light-years from Earth.
To put this into perspective:
• The closest solar system to the Sun, Proxima Centauri, is just 4.25 light-years away.
• The bright stars of Orion, such as Betelgeuse and Rigel, are much farther—about 1,500 light-years away.
This makes the Pleiades easily visible to the unaided eye and a fascinating target for both stargazers and astronomers alike.
The Pleiades in the Zodiacal Band
Because the Pleiades are part of the constellation Taurus, they are also included in the Zodiacal Band—the region of the sky through which the Sun, Moon, and planets appear to move. This band extends 8 degrees on either side of the ecliptic, the apparent path of the Sun across the sky.
From Earth, it seems as if the Sun glides along the ecliptic throughout the year. In reality, it is Earth that moves, orbiting the Sun and changing our perspective of the sky by about one degree per day. Since the blazing light of the Sun obscures the stars, we must wait for Earth’s position to shift before the Pleiades become visible again.
The Zodiacal Band – stars that are 8 degrees on either side of the red line.
They disappear from the night sky for about 2 months at a time
Like all stars along the Zodiacal Band, the Pleiades disappear behind the Sun once a year as Earth orbits our star.
Around the 15th of April, the Pleiades vanish from view. Where do they go? Ancient cultures imagined they had descended into the underworld—a connection that linked them to death and rebirth. In reality, they are simply hidden behind the Sun’s glare as Earth moves into a position where the Sun sits directly between us and the cluster.
This happens to all stars near the ecliptic, yet the Pleiades are uniquely remembered for this phenomenon. Why? Unlike other stars, the Pleiades are a strikingly bright and compact cluster, positioned close to the paths of the Sun and Moon. This prominence made them significant across many cultures, from Matariki in Aotearoa to Halloween’s links to death and the afterlife in ancient Europe.
Thousands of years ago, without an understanding of celestial mechanics, our ancestors wove stories and myths to explain why the Pleiades disappeared—only to return again.
By mid-June, the Pleiades rise once more in the eastern morning sky, marking their rebirth and, in many traditions, the start of a new year.
Why Stars Make Reliable Calendars
Stars are an incredibly reliable tool for tracking time because each time Earth completes one orbit around the Sun—or one year—we see the same stars in the night sky at the same time of year.
Have you noticed that:
• In summer and autumn, Orion (The Pot) dominates the evening sky?
• In winter and spring, Scorpius (The Fishhook) takes its place?
This predictable cycle happens because, while stars do move—orbiting around the galaxy—their true positions change very slowly, taking thousands of years to shift noticeably (a phenomenon known as proper motion). That’s why the night sky we see today is nearly the same as the one our ancestors observed thousands of years ago.
For the next hundred years, the Pleiades will continue to disappear from the evening sky in April and reappear in the dawn twilight just after mid-June, as seen from Wellington and much of the Southern Hemisphere.
Step-by-step guide to finding Matariki in June – as easy as one-two-three
To spot Matariki in the early morning sky, follow these steps:
1️⃣ Start with the Southern Cross (Crux)
• In June, just before dawn, the Southern Cross is at its lowest position in the sky.
• When it points straight down, it marks due south.
2️⃣ Follow the Milky Way to the Left
• Move left along the Milky Way, and you’ll spot the second-brightest star in the sky:
• Canopus (Atutahi)—which appears high in the southeast.
• “Tahi” in Māori means one.
3️⃣ Look for Sirius (Takurua)
• Keep following the Milky Way, and you’ll find Sirius, the bright blue star low on the horizon.
• “Rua” in Māori means two.
4️⃣ Find Orion’s Belt (Tautoru)
• Continuing on the same line, look for the three bright stars of Orion’s Belt, which should be parallel to the horizon.
• “Toru” in Māori means three.
5️⃣ Extend the Line to the North
• Draw an imaginary line from Sirius (Takurua) through Orion’s Belt (Tautoru).
• Extend this line past Taumata Kuku (the Hyades cluster and Aldebaran, which forms a triangular shape).
• Keep moving slightly northward, and you’ll find Matariki (the Pleiades)!
Click on the photo to see a larger version.
Can You See the Pleiades Outside of Matariki?
Yes! Matariki is not the only time you can see the Pleiades. The star cluster is visible at different times of the year. From Wellington, the Pleiades first reappear in the dawn sky just after mid-June, but only if you have a clear view beyond the eastern ridge. After that, they rise 4 minutes earlier each day, meaning they will be increasingly visible throughout the year.
You can track the Moon’s phases around the June solstice by checking this site.
Do You Need Binoculars or a Telescope to See the Pleiades?
No, you don’t need binoculars or a telescope to see the Pleiades! The stars in the cluster are easily visible to the unaided eye once your eyes adjust to the dark. To maintain night vision, use only red light when checking your time or star maps, and avoid bright white lights.
However, if you want to see more detail, then absolutely—binoculars or a telescope will enhance your view!
🔭 Binoculars:
• A good pair of binoculars will reveal many more stars within the cluster.
• If you’re using larger binoculars, a tripod will help reduce arm fatigue and allow for longer, steadier views.
🌌 Telescope:
• While a telescope will show individual stars in detail, the Pleiades are best viewed through binoculars, as their wide field of view captures the entire cluster at once.
👉 Check out our recommended binoculars here.
Did You Know?
The Pleiades Look Upside-Down from the Other Hemisphere!
When you observe the Pleiades from the opposite hemisphere, they appear upside-down! This happens because you’re viewing them from a different angle on Earth. The same is true for the Moon, which appears flipped compared to how it looks in North America or Europe.
🌍 Why does this happen?
• The Earth is a sphere, so depending on where you stand, you see the sky from a different orientation.
• If you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, constellations appear rotated compared to how they look in the Northern Hemisphere.
• This is a handy trick to remember when stargazing while traveling!
So next time you’re under the Southern skies, take a moment to notice how familiar constellations take on a whole new perspective! ✨
Did You Know? The Pleiades Are Hot, Young, and Blue!
The Pleiades are located approximately 432 light-years from Earth and are made up of hot, young, blue stars still surrounded by wisps of their birth nebula.
🌟 How many can you see?
• With the unaided eye, most people can spot six stars.
• With a pair of binoculars, you can see dozens more—revealing the true beauty of this open star cluster!
Grab a pair of binoculars and take a closer look at one of the most stunning sights in the night sky! 🔭✨
Did you know …🔭 The best view of the Pleiades is with low-magnification binoculars!
A wider field of view allows you to see more stars at once, capturing the full beauty of Messier 45.
🦖 The Pleiades Are Young – But Older Than You Think!
At approximately 125 million years old, the Pleiades are still considered a young star cluster. When they first formed, dinosaurs would have been among the first creatures on Earth to see them appear in the night sky!
Next time you look up at Matariki, imagine seeing the sky through the eyes of a dinosaur! 🌌✨
Did You Know? The Light We See from the Pleiades Is Centuries Old!
The light from the Pleiades that reaches Earth today actually left the cluster over 400 years ago—around the same time that Galileo Galilei first pointed his telescope to the heavens in the early 1600s.
🌟 Galileo’s Historic Observation
• He was the first person to observe the Pleiades through a telescope.
• His discovery revealed dozens of stars beyond what the naked eye could see.
So when you gaze at the Pleiades now, you’re seeing them as Galileo would have—through the lens of time! 🔭✨
Clear skies!
