Starwatch: Matariki appearance marks start of M āori new year

Pleiades star cluster in Taurus marks month-long time of remembrance and celebrationMidsummer is definitely not a time of the year that northern hemisphere observers think about looking for the Pleiades star cluster in Taurus; January and February are far more favourable.However, if you move to the southern hemisphere – New Zealand to be precise – the cluster, which is also known as Matariki, takes on a whole new meaning at this time of year. It returns to visibility in the early morning sky during the mid-winter (late-May to late July), and marks the Māori new year.Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: M āori New Zealand Asia Pacific World news Science Source Type: news