Moon Occults Pleiades: A Celestial Dance Captured in Colorado
On the morning of July 25th, 2024, amidst the breathtaking scenery of the West Elk Mountains in Colorado, a truly spectacular celestial event unfolded: the Moon performing an occultation of the Pleiades star cluster.
This series of photographs, expertly captured around 3:23 AM MT, provides a mesmerizing glimpse into this astronomical ballet. The images highlight the precise moments when stars of the Pleiades, affectionately known as the Seven Sisters, are sequentially hidden and then revealed by the Moon's passage. We see the star Electra emerge from behind the Moon's dark limb, followed closely by Alcyone being covered by the bright limb, all while Maia watches from just beyond the frame.
These stunning images were made possible using a Nikon D750 camera paired with an Orion 10" Astrograph mounted on a Celestron AVX mount, demonstrating the dedication and skill involved in capturing such fleeting moments in space.
One of the intriguing aspects noted by viewers was the ethereal glow around the Moon, often perceived as an atmosphere. This is indeed due to the Moon's extremely thin exosphere, composed of trace gases. While not remotely breathable, its existence can, under certain conditions, create visible effects like the one seen in these remarkable photographs.
This event serves as a beautiful reminder of the dynamic and ever-changing nature of our night sky, offering moments of wonder that connect us to the vastness of the cosmos.
