According to astronomical science experts, before dawn on July 3 and 30, the eastern sky will be "online" twice with the moon of the Pleiades, and interested members of the public can try to watch it.
Star photographer Lu Gang photographed the Pleiades accompanied by the moon in Longnan City, Gansu Province, April 11, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Starlink CSVA)
Taurus is one of the 12 zodiac signs of the zodiac and is highly recognizable. It contains many interesting deep-sky objects, such as M45, one of the few star clusters visible to the naked eye, which emits a fascinating blue light, and is one of the closest and brightest open clusters, also known as the "Seven Sisters". In ancient continental times, this star cluster belonged to the Pleiades of the 28 Nakshatras, so we are used to calling this star cluster "Pleiades".
Xiu Lipeng, a member of the Chinese Astronomical Society and an expert in astronomical science popularization, said that the trajectory of the moon is relatively close to the ecliptic, and the speed of its movement on the celestial sphere is very fast, and it will survey the sky once or so every 29 days or so, so it will accompany the Pleiades near the ecliptic once a month, sometimes even twice.
Star photographer Ying Xingye's close-up of the Pleiades in Huangshan City, Anhui Province, in January 2024.
(Photo courtesy of Starlink CSVA)
In July of this year, the Pleiades star cluster will appear in the eastern sky before dawn. Before dawn on July 3, the crescent moon of the twenty-eighth lunar month rises from the east with the Pleiades star cluster.
"Although the Moon and the Pleiades occur every month, firstly, not every time it happens at night, and secondly, if the moon phases are different, the intensity of the moonlight will have an impact on the observation of the Pleiades. This time, the moon phase is waning and the brightness is not very high, which will not have much impact on the observation of the Pleiades. Xiu Lipeng reminded.
Close-up of the Pleiades taken by star photographer Zhang Hongtao in Jiapeng Township, Jixi County, Xuancheng City, Anhui Province, October 3, 2022. (Photo courtesy of Starlink CSVA)
Before dawn on July 30, the Moon will come to Taurus again. "This time is more suitable for mainland public observation than the one on July 3. At midnight, the waning moon and the Pleiades rise over the eastern horizon, and most areas will be able to see them up close and personal before dawn. Xiu Lipeng said.
To see the Pleiades with the moon, it is best to go to places with less light pollution, such as suburbs, rural areas, etc. In good weather, you can see with the naked eye a bunch of "sapphires" sparkling near the moon, which is the Pleiades. In addition to viewing with the naked eye, members of the public who prefer astrophotography can try to freeze the two in the same frame.
Star photographer Zhang Maohai photographed the Pleiades accompanying the moon in Shangri-La, Yunnan Province, January 20, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Starlink CSVA)
"When these two Pleiades coincide with the moon, Jupiter, Mars, and the star Aldebaran are also not far away with the waning moon, and the interested public can 'cuddle the grass and beat the rabbit' and 'take them together' when watching." Xiu Lipeng reminded.
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Editor: Pan Qiaoyu
Source: Xinhua News Agency
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