The bright waxing gibbous moon will make a close approach to the Pleiades star cluster on the evening of November 26, 2023.
On November 26, the moon and Pleiades star cluster will rise together in the east around the time of sunset, reach their highest point in the sky around midnight, and set in the west around the time of sunrise.
Where to look: Look low in the east around a couple of hours after sunset to see the moon and Pleiades star cluster nearby. They will travel across the sky together until they set.
Constellation: On the evening of November 26, 2023, the moon will be located in the zodiac constellation Taurus, the Bull and Pleiades is the brightest star cluster in the constellation Taurus.
You will also see the bright star Aldebaran, which is located below the moon and Pleiades. Aldebaran is the brightest star in the constellation Taurus.
Phase: On the evening of November 26, 2023, the moon is 99% illuminated (waxing gibbous phase).
Magnitude: On the evening of November 26, 2023, the apparent magnitude of the moon is -12.68 and that of Pleiades star cluster is +1.59.
Angular diameter: On the evening of November 26, 2023, the angular diameter (disk size) of the moon is 31.70 arcminutes and that of Pleiades star cluster is 110.00 arcminutes.
You will see the Pleiades star cluster next to the moon again on December 24, 2023
The moon takes 27.322 days to complete one orbit around the Earth with respect to the background stars. This is called a sidereal month.
However, in 27.322 days, the Pleiades star cluster moves a little from its previous position with respect to the background stars.
So the moon takes a little over 27.322 days to catch the Pleiades star cluster in the sky, and you will see the Pleiades star cluster next to the moon again on December 24, 2023.
Know about Pleiades star cluster
The Pleiades star cluster, also known as the Seven Sisters or M45, is a lovely grouping of a couple thousand stars that formed together only about 100 million years ago.
However, you can see a handful of the brightest stars in the cluster with your unaided eye and hundreds of stars with binoculars or a telescope.
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