New Year Night Sky

The very earliest memory of night sky objects I learned-of as a child is the Pleiades.  This cluster of stars commonly known as the Seven Sisters is found in the constellation Taurus, The Bull.  In Greek mythology Atlas' daughters turned into this group of stars.  If, like me, you've ever owned a Subaru automobile you would be reminded of it on almost a near daily basis.

With cold, clear, viewing conditions this evening you can observe our moon eclipse this star cluster.  This is technically known as an occultation.  Because of the moon's orbit, from time-to-time it occults the Pleiades.

Look high above the east as soon as it gets dark and you will observe a waxing gibbous moon alongside the Pleiades and over the next three or four hours will over across the star cluster.

If you have binoculars, use them to counter the brightness of the moon.

Image credit - Chris Vaughan Starry Night