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The Pleiades (or the Seven Sisters) is the name of an open cluster in the constellation Taurus. Each Monday, I pick out North America’s celestial highlights for the week ahead (which also apply to mid-northern latitudes in the northern hemisphere). Check my main feed for more in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses and more.
This week is perfect for watching the crescent moon as it journeys through the night sky, pairing with some of the brightest stars and planets as it waxes towards its first quarter phase. From a spectacular rendezvous with the Pleiades—a definite stargazing highlight of 2025—to an encounter with Mars and the Twins of Gemini, here’s everything you need to know about stargazing and astronomy this week: Monday, March 31: Waxing Crescent Moon Tonight, a 9%-lit waxing crescent moon graces the western sky soon after sunset, just a couple of days after causing a partial solar eclipse visible across Europe and extreme eastern North America. An easy way to find it is to use Orion’s Belt—that obvious trio of stars in the southwest—and trace them westward.
Grab a glimpse while you can because this sight will quickly sink into the horizon. Tuesday, April 1: Moon Visits The Pleiades A celestial treat awaits as the waxing crescent moon, now 17%-lit, passes just half a degree above the Pleiades open cluster of stars in the constellation Taurus. Known as the “Seven Sisters,” this group of hot, young stars is 440 light-years distant and obvious even in twilight to the naked eye.
The moon will visit the Pleiades every month in 2025, but this is one of the most spectacular—and easiest to photograph. Wednesday, April 2: Moon And Jupiter In Taurus The moon, now 27%-lit, continues through the constellation Taurus and pairs with Jupiter. Look westward shortly after sunset to catch this dazzling duo.
Few realize, but any pair of binoculars will reveal Jupiter's four largest moons—Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto—as bright dots around it. Thursday, April 3: Moon Between Jupiter and Mars The moon, now 38%-lit, tonight lies between Jupiter and Mars in the southwest after sunset. It's all that's left of the dazzling “planet parades” of January and February.
Friday, April 4: First Quarter Moon. (Photo by: VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) The moon reaches its first quarter phase today, appearing 50%-lit and thus dominating the evening sky. It resides near the "twins" of Gemini, Pollux and Castor.
Saturday, April 5: Moon And Mars In Gemini Mars joins the 60%-lit waxing gibbous moon tonight. Together, they form a triangle with Pollux and Castor. This grouping creates an upside-down “Y” shape in the sky.
The constellation Gemini, "The Twins," is easily visible this week, with Mars within it and the mon ...
More paying a visit on Friday and Saturday. Gemini, the twins of Greek mythology, takes center stage this week. Its twin stars, Pollux and Castor, are easily visible and near Mars and the moon on Friday and Saturday.
Pollux, the brighter of the two, is a yellow giant with one confirmed exoplanet, while Castor is a complex six-star system. Look for this constellation high in the southwest during the evening. The times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes.
For the most accurate location-specific information, consult online planetariums like Stellarium and use a sunrise and sunset calculator for where you are. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes..
