The President of the Jordanian Astronomical Society, Ammar Al-Sakarji, announced that the Moon will conjunct with the Pleiades star cluster (Al-Thuraya) and occult some of its stars on Sunday, April 19. The Moon will approach the Pleiades during the evening hours in Jordan's northwestern horizon.
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According to Jordan’s local time and geographical location, the Moon will be approximately one arc degree from the cluster at 8:00 PM. The proximity will increase by 9:00 PM, reaching about 38 arc minutes until they set together.
Viewing Recommendations
Al-Sakarji explained that this conjunction can be seen with the naked eye in areas with low light pollution, such as deserts and rural regions, provided the weather is clear. However, viewing will be much clearer using binoculars or a camera. The Moon will appear low in the sky, with the Pleiades sparkling beside it like a cluster of pearls.
About the Pleiades (The Seven Sisters)
The Pleiades is one of the most famous open star clusters in the sky, located within the Taurus constellation.
Visibility: It appears to the naked eye as a small gathering of bright stars.
Composition: While it contains hundreds of stars, the seven most prominent are known as the "Seven Sisters."
Distance: It is relatively close to Earth in astronomical terms, located about 430 light-years away.
Global Dark Sky Week
This celestial event marks the beginning of "International Dark Sky Week," running from April 13 to 20, which advocates for protecting the night from light pollution.
In Arab heritage, the Pleiades has long been associated with seasons of rain and fertility, serving as a chronological reference for Bedouins and farmers. Bedouin proverbs often link the Moon's conjunction with the Pleiades to the changing of seasons and the end of spring.
A Rich Astronomical Canvas
On that Sunday evening, Jordan’s sky will offer a rich display blending winter and spring stars:
Venus: Appearing as the brightest object after the Sun and Moon.
Uranus: Visible nearby for those using appropriate astronomical tools.
Aldebaran: Standing out near the Pleiades within the Taurus constellation.
Winter Hexagon Remnants: Stars such as Sirius, Rigel, Betelgeuse, Pollux, and Castor will be visible, gradually tilting toward the horizon in a scene that reflects the transition of the seasons.
