- The waning crescent moon will pair up with the Pleiades star cluster on 11 July.
- Viewing is best from a clear, low horizon for optimal visibility at 3am BST.
- With binoculars, more stars in the Pleiades can be seen beyond just six naked-eye sightings.
Aligning Celestial Bodies
In the early hours of 11 July, the waning crescent moon will be gliding past the beautiful Pleiades star cluster, which is also known as M45 or the Seven Sisters. The chart shows the view looking east-north-east from a clear horizon at 3am BST. By then, the sky will getting ready to start brightening for the coming day, so a clear, low horizon will be essential to see the pairing.
The moon will be the easiest object to find: a thin crescent, just a few days old, with only 15% of its visible hemisphere illuminated. Its sunlit limb will be pointing down toward the horizon. The compact smudge of the Pleiades will be just off from the opposite, dark limb. With the naked eye, the cluster often looks like a mini version of the Plough. Despite its common name, most people see only six stars with the naked eye. However, if you have a pair of binoculars to hand, you will see many more stars.
Mars will also be nearby, though lower toward the horizon in Taurus, the Bull. It will be a difficult but rewarding spot if you can pick it out of the rapidly brightening sky. The view is also visible from the southern hemisphere, but Taurus rises in the north-east. This event is a beautiful reminder of the celestial dance that occurs every night across the sky, offering a spectacle that has fascinated humans for centuries. Whether you are an experienced astronomer or just starting to explore the night sky, this alignment provides an excellent opportunity to appreciate the beauty and complexity of our universe.
Source: The Guardian
Science Daily
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