Celestial Wonders: The Moon's Dance with the Pleiades tonight

 In March, a stunning celestial conjunction will illuminate the night sky as the Moon appears close to the Pleiades star cluster in the Taurus constellation. To witness this remarkable astronomical event, simply direct your gaze towards the western horizon. The Pleiades cluster, consisting of 800 stars born approximately 100 million years ago, is situated 440 light-years away from Earth. Among its brightest stars is Atlas, which, along with Pleione, forms an integral part of the easily observable imaginary "chariot."

Source: ScienceBlogs

Greek mythology narrates the tale of the Pleiades as seven sisters (Maia, Alcyone, Asterope, Celaeno, Taygete, Electra, and Merope) who, pursued by Orion, sought refuge with Zeus. In order to protect them, the supreme deity transformed the sisters into doves and positioned them in the sky. Native American folklore, on the other hand, describes the Pleiades as seven maidens who, during a heavenly walk, lost their way back to Earth. The sisters are said to be challenging to observe due to their tears, which dim their luminosity. Regardless of the legends, the Pleiades star cluster is visible to the naked eye, with no need for telescopic or binocular assistance.