1	A Quick Galactic Tour By: Sheila Spiker
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7	Where are we going?
8	Galaxies – the big picture
9	How many are there?
10	How they were made
11	Parts, parts, parts
12	Star Clusters - Globular Globular clusters are gravitationally bound concentrations of approximately ten thousand to one million stars Found in the outskirts Really, really, really old How many do we have?
13	Star Clusters - Open Open clusters are physically related groups of stars held together by mutual gravitational attraction Originated from large cosmic gas/dust clouds in the Milky Way Young, star forming Relatively short swarm life of 100 million yrs
14	Globular & Open – Differences Globular contain the oldest stars 1 million stars few heavy elements little gas or dust (no star formation) found in halo Open span a wide range of ages 1000 stars gas and dust signs of recent star formation found in the disk of the galaxy.
15	The Pleiades – an open cluster a.k.a M45 Distance – 400 ly 13 ly across Taurus location Relatively young Mass segregation Many myths It’s just really really really pretty
16	Wait…why is it blue?
17	Stars in Pleiades ~ 500 stars Young, some rapidly rotating Mostly A and B stars Faintest of easily visible stars are still 40 times brighter than our own sun would appear at a similar distance White Dwarfs – at the end of a star’s life, its core will remain. Our sun in the future. An enigma for the Pleiades cluster because of age. Brown Dwarfs - brown dwarfs should have 10 to about 60 times the mass of Jupiter. Heavier than a gas-giant planet but not quite massive enough to be a star.
18	Where in the sky is Pleiades?
19	Pleiades Myths & Culture The 7 Sisters – Greek Daughters of Atlas & Pleione Attendants of chaste goddess Artemis Pursued by the amorous hunter Orion Zeus turned them into doves Subaru - Japanese “Brush stars”, bright “get together”, grain, rising with spring sun signifies planting
20	More myths & culture Native American - 7 lost children walking home, 7^th is hard to see - 7 women whose husbands kicked them out - After the Earth was separated from the sky, Black God had a cluster of seven stars on his ankle. When he stomped the stars jumped to his knees, hips and forehead - Maidens running away from bears
21	More myths and culture Aztecs “Tianquiztli”, which means marketplace. Calendar based on 52 yrs, Pleiades passed over the zenith about midnight, and set over the western horizon. This passage ensures that the world would not end (yay!) Myans Chorti Maya use the Pleiades to begin their planting for the year
22	Yet even more myths and culture Polynesians Translates into “Little Eyes”, story of a conceited star. Guardian of heaven displeased with the star, sends Sirius and Aldebaran to attack him. He hides, and finally the guardian of heaven smashes him to bits. New Age – modern myth Spiritually evolved place. Former home of one of Virgin Mary’s past incarnations. Pleiades beings of light communicate with people through dreams.
23	The End