Moon Near Pleiades in Early Morning Sky August 16 17

A pre-dawn Moon passes close to the Pleiades with Uranus nearby, inviting beginners to look up on August 16 and 17.

Moon Near Pleiades in Early Morning Sky August 16 17

The Moon will sweep close to the Pleiades in the early morning hours of August 16 and 17. Look to the eastern horizon about an hour after midnight on August 16 to see the half lit lunar disk as it reaches its third quarter at 1:12 a.m. EDT, roughly 5 degrees to the upper right of the cluster. On August 17 the Moon sits about 5 degrees to the lower left of the Pleiades as it moves toward dawn.

The Pleiades, also called the Seven Sisters, may appear as a faint smudge to the naked eye, especially with some moonlight. Averted vision can help bring the cluster into view. A smartphone astronomy app can guide you to the cluster and nearby deep space objects.

Using a pair of 10x50 binoculars will reveal the Pleiades seven brightest stars, along with visible lunar features such as crater rims Kepler and Copernicus near the Moon’s limb. An 8-inch telescope provides a clearer view of the cluster against faint interstellar dust and can help place Uranus as a tiny aqua dot less than 5 degrees away on August 16. The Moon will drift away after dawn on August 17 as it approaches new moon, so plan a quiet dawn session if conditions allow.

This event shows how skywatching remains an inclusive, low-cost entry into science. Simple observing tips and readily available gear make it possible for families, students, and hobbyists to join a shared moment with the night sky. The mention of smartphone apps highlights how technology can broaden access rather than replace traditional binoculars and small telescopes.

Viewing at dawn will be easier in dark locations, but moonlight still adds a challenge. The piece underscores the appeal of bright clusters like the Pleiades as gateways to more distant objects, and it points to potential community outreach that makes early morning sessions feasible for clubs and schools.

Highlights

The night sky keeps inviting us to look up.