Crescent Moon intertwine with Pleiades: April 8, 2008

William Atkins
Monday, 07 April 2008 18:15

Science - Space

The Seven Sisters, of the Pleiades, are actually nine of the brightest stars of the Pleiades. They are named for the Seven Sisters of Greek mythology—Alcyone, Celaeno, Electra, Maia, Merope, Sterope, and Taygete—and their parents, Atlas and Pleione.

The Pleiades is one of the closest star clusters to the Earth; thus, are one of the most watched by sky-gazers throughout the history of humankind. In fact, are written down in historical accounts of the ancient Greeks, Chinese, the Maya, the Aztec, the Sioux of North America, and the Australian Aborigines.

The Pleiades are seen in the winter in the Northern Hemisphere and in the summer in the Southern Hemisphere on Earth.

On the night of April 8, 2008, the Moon and the Pleiades will “relatively” positioned so close to each other that to the naked eye they will appear to touch.

Binoculars will show the Moon as it passes just below the famous Seven Sisters.

Probably the best time to observe the Moon and the Pleiades in the western sky on the night of April 8th is just after the Sun sets. The event is expected to begin between 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time.