Look East on October 27 to Find the Moon Passing the Pleiades Cluster

This guide covers moonrise times, where the cluster sits, how to pick it out in moonlight, and what to check before you head out.

When do the Moon and the Pleiades come close?

NASA says the Moon passes near the Pleiades, called Jomsangibyeol in Korea, on the night of October 27 into October 28. How close the two look depends on where you stand, so check the exact gap in a sky-map app.

In the KASI table the Moon on October 27 is just past full at an age of 16.8 days, and it rises about 20 minutes after sunset.

Checked on 2026-10-27 against the KASI monthly astronomical events table and NASA's October sky guide. Times can differ by a few minutes depending on your location.

Just after 18:00 the Moon is still low. After 21:00 the Moon and the cluster climb together, so pick a time that suits you.

How do I find the cluster in the eastern sky?

NASA suggests facing east in the evening and following the Moon and the cluster as they climb. Here are the steps.

1. After 19:00, face east and find the brightest object in the sky, the Moon.
2. Scan around the Moon for a bluish, fuzzy clump of stars. The Pleiades looks like a small group of 6 to 7 stars.
3. Look for bright stars such as Aldebaran and Capella near the Moon too. NASA's chart marks both around the Moon, so they help you judge direction.
4. Keep watching as the sky turns, and note when the Moon and the cluster look closest, around 11 p.m.

The cluster has an apparent magnitude of 1.6, so it is easy to see with the naked eye from a dark site. It lies about 445 light-years away, and NASA's catalog says a handful of its brightest stars dominate its look.

Can I see the cluster in bright moonlight?

With the Moon this close, the fainter stars around the cluster get washed out. Aim for the few brightest stars rather than the whole group.

• Block the Moon with your hand or a building edge to cut the glare. Looking away from the Moon makes the cluster easier to see.
• Binoculars bring out a few more stars that the naked eye misses. Shift your position slightly so the Moon sits at the edge of the view.
• Turn your phone screen brightness to the minimum. A bright screen in your eyes makes the cluster fade again.
• If a street lamp is in view, move to a shaded spot.

For the steps to see the cluster properly under a dark sky, see how to find the Pleiades with the naked eye and binoculars.

What should I check before I go out?

Weather matters most. Check the Korea Meteorological Administration cloud forecast for 21:00 to midnight first. Late October nights are much colder than the days, so bring a coat and gloves, and a chair or mat if you plan to stand around for a while.

After the Moon moves on, the evening of October 31 is a good time. In the KASI table the Moon rises at 22:03 that day, so until then you can see the cluster in a moonless sky. Daily plans for November continue in the November 2026 night sky calendar.