Matariki

Matariki star cluster with brightest star "Matariki" (CC BY Robert Gendler).

Matariki is a name for the star cluster of the Pleiades from the Maori people in New Zealand. Among the group of nine stars, the term is also used as proper name for the brightest one (Alcyone).

IAU Working Group on Star Names

The name was discussed and approved by the IAU WGSN in 2025.

As this star is already named ..., the WGSN chose ... (not to apply/ to apply the name to a neighbouring star/ to ...) in the IAU-CSN.

Reference

• References (general)
• References (early modern)