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Maia is located in the upper right section of the map. |
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| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 |
|
|---|---|
| Constellation | Taurus |
| Right ascension | 03h 45m 49.6067s[1] |
| Declination | 24° 22′ 03.895″[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 3.871[1] |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | B8III[1] |
| U−B color index | -0.40 |
| B−V color index | -0.07[2] |
| Variable type | Suspected |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | 7.5[1] km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: 21.09[1] mas/yr Dec.: -45.03[1] mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 9.06 ± 1.03[3] mas |
| Distance | approx. 360 ly (approx. 110 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | -1.03 |
| Details | |
| Mass | 4+[4] M☉ |
| Radius | 5.5[4] R☉ |
| Luminosity | 660[4] L☉ |
| Temperature | 12,600[4] K |
| Metallicity | 1.10 Fe/H[5] |
| Rotation | 33 km/s[6] |
| Age | ? years |
| Other designations | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
Coordinates: 03h 45m 49.607s, +24° 22′ 03.895″
Maia (20 Tauri) is a star in the constellation Taurus. It is the fourth brightest star in the Pleiades open star cluster (M45), after Alcyone, Atlas and Electra, in that order. The name Maia originates with the Greek: Μαῖα and Latin: Maia. She is one of the seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione in Greek mythology—stars which are also included in the Pleaides star cluster (see map). Maia is a blue giant of spectral type B8 III, and a mercury-manganese star.
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Maia's visual magnitude is 3.871, requiring darker skies to be seen. Its total bolometric luminosity is 660 times solar, mostly in the ultraviolet, thus suggesting a radius that is 5.5 times that of the Sun and a mass that is slightly more than 4 times solar.[4] Maia is one of the stars in the Maia Nebula (also known as NGC 1432), a bright emission or reflection nebula[7] within the Pleiades star cluster.
Maia was thought to be a variable star by astronomer Otto Struve. A class of stars known as Maia variables was proposed, which included Gamma Ursae Minoris, but Maia and some others in the class have since been found to be stable.[4]
Maia was the oldest of seven beautiful sisters known as the Pleiades. She was raped by Zeus, thereby conceiving Hermes, the messenger god. As Maia and the Pleiades are visible in the winter night sky along with the constellation Orion, the Greek myths tell of Maia and her sisters being pursued by the giant huntsman, and turned into doves to preserve their safety.[8]