Moon will pass directly in front of the Pleiades star cluster in constellation Taurus today—when and how to watch

Slated for the night of October 9–10, 2025, the celestial spectacle will feature the brightly lit waning gibbous Moon (86% illuminated).
PUBLISHED OCT 9, 2025
Two Moons and the Pleiades from Mars (Cover Image Source: NASA/JPL/Cornell/Texas A&M)
Two Moons and the Pleiades from Mars (Cover Image Source: NASA/JPL/Cornell/Texas A&M)

Sky watchers across large parts of North America are gearing up for a celestial event this week as the Moon passes directly in front of the Pleiades star cluster, a phenomenon astronomers call an occultation, as per Earth Sky

This image shows the famous Pleiades cluster of stars as seen through the eyes of WISE, or NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (Image Source: NASA)
This image shows the famous Pleiades cluster of stars as seen through the eyes of WISE, or NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (Image Source: NASA)

Scheduled for the night of October 9-10, 2025, the event features the Moon, a highly illuminated waning gibbous (86% sunlit), appearing to temporarily swallow the famous star group, also known as the Seven Sisters, as reported on Space.com. Observing this rare alignment will be a tale of two different viewing challenges, requiring specific gear. As the Pleiades stars vanish behind the Moon's intensely bright leading edge, visibility will be difficult. Viewers are strongly advised to use a telescope with at least 50x magnification to track the stars in their final moments before they disappear into the glare. Standard binoculars will likely be insufficient for this phase.

The waning gibbous Moon was pictured from the International Space Station (Image Source: NASA)
The waning gibbous Moon was pictured from the International Space Station (Image Source: NASA)

However, the reappearance of the stars from behind the Moon's dark, trailing limb will be an easier spectacle to witness. The sudden "pop" back into view means binoculars, especially if mounted on a tripod for stability, should be adequate for this segment of the show. The precise timing and visibility will depend on the observer's location. For the Western US and Canada, the Moon will begin to cross the star cluster relatively early, during the early-to-mid evening hours. Viewers will catch the action when the Moon is low on the east-northeast horizon (about 10∘ up). On the other hand, for the Eastern U.S. and Atlantic Canada, the spectacle starts closer to local midnight (just before in the Eastern time zone; just after in Atlantic Canada). For these regions, the Moon will be higher, approximately halfway up the eastern sky.

A girl observing stars, planets, the Moon, and the night sky with an astronomical telescope (Representative Image Source: Getty | m-gucci)
A girl observing stars, planets, the Moon, and the night sky with an astronomical telescope (Representative Image Source: Getty | m-gucci)

The Moon’s passage through the cluster is expected to take about two hours in most areas. For instance, observers in Chicago can expect the bright lunar edge to occult three of the cluster's main stars, Electra (at roughly 10:27 p.m. CDT), Taygeta (10:53 p.m. CDT), and Maia (10:55 p.m. CDT). Their reappearance from behind the dark limb will follow between 11:20 p.m. and 11:55 p.m. CDT. Notably, the Moon’s path from Chicago will miss the other four brightest members, including Alcyone.

An Image of a waxing crescent moon (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty | Yaorusheng)
An Image of a waxing crescent moon (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty | Yaorusheng)

According to NASA, the star group at the center of this week's event is formally classified as M45, an open star cluster. Although it is visually dominated by just a handful of its brightest members, M45 actually contains over a thousand stars that are loosely held together by gravity. This cluster is notable for the streams of dust particles surrounding its stars, creating stunning imagery when captured by telescopes. For instance, the star Merope is known to illuminate these drifting interstellar clouds. Telescopic images reveal nearly straight, blue-white wisps that are actually streams of large dust particles. This unique appearance is caused by a cosmic effect: as the dust cloud moves toward a star like Merope, the star's radiation pressure affects the particles differently. 

More on Starlust

Orionid meteor shower to light up the sky at its peak on October 21—when and how to watch

Moon phases 2025: When is the next full moon?

MORE STORIES

Due to the opposing perihelion alignment, the comet won't be generally visible until November, emerging low above the horizon at dawn.
1 day ago
The shower is caused by Earth's passage through the Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle debris trail, running from November 3 to December 2.
1 day ago
November 2025 is prime time for skywatching, featuring the year's biggest Supermoon, the prolific Leonids meteor peak, and must-see planetary close calls.
2 days ago
As of October 28, 2025, the comet resides in the Aquarius constellation. Its present separation from Earth is more than 29.2 million miles.
2 days ago
The icy visitor, which reached its closest point on October 21, is currently situated more than 63.3 million miles from Earth and is swiftly pulling away.
2 days ago
The Supermoon phenomenon will reach its most dramatic point on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.
2 days ago
The shower coincides with a 'swarm year,' meaning observers are far more likely to see spectacular, bright fireballs.
3 days ago
Mercury reaches its greatest elongation, its peak visible separation from the Sun, at 6:00 p.m. ET (5 p.m. CDT) on October 29, 2025.
3 days ago
As of today, October 24, Comet Lemmon is positioned within the constellation Boötes.
6 days ago