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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Lunar Conjunction with the Pleiades
26 November 2023

This weekend on Sunday, the 26th of November 2023, the Moon at 99% full, will pass by the Open Star Cluster of the Seven Sisters/Messier 45/Pleiades/Subaru, making a nice conjunction event to enjoy.



But on Saturday, the 25th of November, the Moon will be just about equidistant between the planet Jupiter and the Star cluster...

It is clear tonight in Chicago, so take advantage of clear skies and grab a pair of binoculars or telescope to catch these alignments.  Sunday evening in Chicago may be cloudy and snow is coming.  Low power is the guide for this event, as you want to catch the two objects within the same frame.



Photographing the close conjunction on Sunday may be a challenge, as the light from the Full Moon will oversaturate your camera sensor and wash out the Pleiades, so some creative exposures are required. 

Share your pics of this event.

Astro Joe 

[Centaur]

Nov 25, 2023 16:59:51 GMT -6 Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe said:

Lunar Conjunction with the Pleiades
26 November 2023

This weekend on Sunday, the 26th of November 2023, the Moon at 99% full, will pass by the Open Star Cluster of the Seven Sisters/Messier 45/Pleiades/Subaru, making a nice conjunction event to enjoy.

But on Saturday, the 25th of November, the Moon will be just about equidistant between the planet Jupiter and the Star cluster...

It is clear tonight in Chicago, so take advantage of clear skies and grab a pair of binoculars or telescope to catch these alignments.  Sunday evening in Chicago may be cloudy and snow is coming.  Low power is the guide for this event, as you want to catch the two objects within the same frame.

Photographing the close conjunction on Sunday may be a challenge, as the light from the Full Moon will oversaturate your camera sensor and wash out the Pleiades, so some creative exposures are required. 

Share your pics of this event.

Astro Joe 

A monthly occultation series of Pleiades stars began in August 2023 and will end in August 2029. The previous series was in 2005-2011 and the next will be in 2042-2048.

The current Pleiades occultation series has begun for southern hemisphere observers before heading north. Yesterday's conjunction as seen from Chicago were occultations in Perth, Australia. The first Pleiades occultation for Chicago will be in September 2024. The series will return to the southern hemisphere before it ends.