Stargazers in line for lunar spectacle tonight
Skywatchers nationwide can look forward to a series of celestial pairings this week as October draws to a close.
If stars make your eyes shine a little brighter, head outdoors tonight because October’s Hunter’s Moon makes a close approach to the famous Pleiades star cluster, better known as the Seven Sisters.
According to Polokwane Review, the celestial pairing should be visible tonight (October 28), giving observers a chance to see the bright, waning gibbous Moon alongside one of the most recognisable groups of stars in the night sky. According to Nasa, the Moon will pass close to the Pleiades as it moves across the night sky, with the best opportunity to spot the pairing coming as both rise higher above the eastern horizon during the evening.
Local stargazers planning to catch the display will need to check local times, as moonrise varies by region tonight. Across most of South Africa, the Moon and its celestial companions will begin clearing the eastern horizon between 20:30 and 21:15, with the best viewing window opening from around 21:30 onwards as the pairing climbs higher into the night sky. For precise moonrise and local astronomy data for your specific city, you can consult Time and Date’s South Africa Moon Calendar.
The encounter follows the Hunter’s Moon, which reached full illumination in the early hours of Monday (October 26).
Although the Moon and the Pleiades appear close together from Earth, they are separated by an enormous distance in space. Their apparent alignment results from their positions in the sky, not an actual close encounter.
Meet the Seven Sisters
The Pleiades, also known as Messier 45 or M45, is an open star cluster in the constellation Taurus. It contains hundreds of stars that formed from the same cloud of gas and dust. The cluster is estimated to be about 440 light-years from Earth, with six or seven of its brightest stars generally visible to the naked eye under suitable conditions.
The cluster has also appeared in the folklore and traditions of numerous cultures worldwide, making it one of the most widely recognised star groupings in the night sky.
How to see the celestial pairing
The cluster appears as a small, tightly grouped collection of stars with a slightly hazy look.
You can see the Pleiades without special equipment, but binoculars or a telescope can reveal more stars within the cluster.
The bright Moon may, however, make some of the fainter stars harder to distinguish. Observers are therefore encouraged to find a location away from bright artificial lights and give their eyes time to adjust to the darkness.
Aldebaran joins the night-sky display
The Moon will also appear close to Aldebaran, the bright orange-red star that marks the eye of Taurus, the Bull.
Aldebaran is one of the brightest stars visible from Earth and is easily recognised by its distinctive orange hue.
Another lunar encounter on Halloween
The celestial activity will continue into the weekend, with the Moon set to appear close to Pollux on Saturday (October 31).
Pollux is the brightest star in the Gemini constellation and forms part of the familiar pair of stars known as the celestial twins, alongside Castor.
South Africans should be able to see the Moon and Pollux with the naked eye, with the best viewing opportunity expected late Saturday evening and into the early hours of Sunday (November 1).
With several interesting pairings taking place over a few days, October ends with plenty of reasons for stargazers to look up.
Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel.
Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
Read original story on www.citizen.co.za
