Moon to appear close to Pleiades cluster in Arab skies tonight

The skies over the Arab world will witness a close visual alignment between the moon and the Pleiades star cluster on Wednesday evening, according to Majed Abu Zahra, head of the Jeddah Astronomical Society.

Abu Zahra explained that the closest approach will occur at 8:39 p.m. Mecca time, with a separation of about 0.2 degrees. He noted that the exact appearance may vary slightly depending on the observer's geographic location in the region.

He added that the Pleiades cluster, also known as the "Seven Sisters," is a group of stars located approximately 445 light-years from Earth.

Abu Zahra noted that the brightness of the moon tonight will limit the visibility of the fainter stars in the Pleiades, emphasizing that this is only an apparent proximity and does not mean the two are actually close in space.

Astronomy enthusiasts are encouraged to observe the event with the naked eye, though binoculars can reveal more stars within the cluster.