December 3: Moon Meets the Seven Sisters (Pleiades) 
A golden Moon rises above a mountainous landscape, sharing the twilight sky with the shimmering Pleiades star cluster, the famous Seven Sisters. An observatory dome stands sentinel in the foreground, perfectly positioned to witness this celestial encounter. On December 3, 2025, the nearly full Moon (99% illuminated) will pass extremely close to one of the night sky’s most beloved star clusters, creating a stunning sight for observers across the globe.
A Rare Occultation Event
For observers in North America, Europe, and northern Africa, this won’t just be a close approach, it will be a lunar occultation, where the Moon actually passes in front of the Pleiades, temporarily hiding several of its brightest stars. From locations like San Francisco and Los Angeles, the Moon will move right through the core of the cluster, covering stars like Electra, Merope, Maia, and Alcyone before revealing them again.
While the occultation will be challenging to observe due to the Moon’s bright glare, binoculars will enhance the view and help you spot the stars disappearing and reappearing at the Moon’s dark edge. Even if you’re not in the occultation zone, watching the Moon and Pleiades rise together in the eastern sky after dark will be a beautiful sight.
The Pleiades: Ancient Sisters in the Sky
The Pleiades is an open star cluster located about 444 light-years away in the constellation Taurus. Though traditionally called the “Seven Sisters” after figures in Greek mythology, the cluster contains over a thousand stars, though only six or seven are visible to the naked eye. These young, hot blue stars are among the most recognizable objects in the night sky, celebrated in cultures worldwide for thousands of years.
Don’t miss this cosmic meeting between the Moon and one of the most beautiful star clusters visible from Earth! 