Plan for the Moon near the Pleiades on October 27–28, NASA guide says

News date: 2026-10-25 · Checked: 2026-10-25 (Asia/Bangkok)

U.S. skywatchers planning their next evening outdoors have a Moon-and-star-cluster pairing to look for on October 27 into October 28. NASA’s October observing guide identifies the Pleiades as the cluster the Moon will pass close to and advises looking east in the evening as they climb higher.

Three key points

• NASA’s guide identifies the night of October 27 into October 28 for the close apparent pairing.
• Look east in the evening; the Pleiades can appear as a small, fuzzy group of stars.
• Binoculars or a telescope can reveal more detail, while local conditions affect visibility.

An observing plan, not a new discovery

The Pleiades are also called the Seven Sisters. NASA describes them as a grouping of roughly six or seven stars visible to the unaided eye, with more detail available through optical equipment. The guide’s illustration uses an eastward view around 11 p.m. on October 27.

The apparent proximity is a line-of-sight view from Earth. This article does not claim a physical collision, an eclipse or that the Moon is entering the cluster. The accompanying archive photograph isolates the star cluster and does not show the forthcoming pairing.

Use the dates that are still ahead

NASA published the monthly guide on October 1 and updated it October 2. Its Orionid peak of October 21–22 has already passed; the Moon–Pleiades item is a separate upcoming observing opportunity.

The U.S. practical reference is NASA/JPL’s observing guidance. It does not guarantee a cloud-free sky or specify a single viewing time valid for every state. NASA’s Night Sky Network also connects the public with astronomy clubs across the United States.

Original sources

• NASA/JPL — October 2026 observing dates and directions