jordan pulse -

A conjunction between the Moon and the open star cluster known as the "Beehive Cluster" or "Al-Nathrah" in the Cancer constellation will take place this Thursday evening, with the Moon passing close to occult several of its stars, according to Ammar Sakji, President of the Jordanian Astronomical Society.
​Sakji stated that the astronomical event will occur on the evening of May 21, 2026, when the Moon will be about five days old following its conjunction. He explained that the Beehive Cluster is also traditionally known as "Nathrat al-Asad" (the mane of the lion) and holds the scientific designation Messier 44 (M44).
​Astronomical calculations for Amman that this conjunction can be observed as the evening twilight fades at approximately 8:30 PM Jordan time, at an altitude of about 45 degrees above the western horizon, particularly in areas with clear skies. The conjunction will occur above Jupiter and Venus, though seeing the individual stars of Al-Nathrah with the naked eye will be challenging and requires optical aids due to moonlight interference. The Moon and the star cluster will continue their apparent movement westward until Al-Nathrah sets around 12:18 AM.
​Sakji added that the event will reach its closest approach at 7:28 PM Jordan time, at an altitude of approximately 59 degrees above the horizon. The angular distance between the Moon and Al-Nathrah will be about 36 arcminutes, making the Moon appear as though it is passing through the heart of the star cluster. The Moon’s apparent magnitude will be around -11.4, while the star cluster's magnitude is about 3.1, with both located within the boundaries of the Cancer constellation. He noted that the distance between the two objects will be slightly too wide to fit within the field of view of most long-focal-length telescopes. Binoculars and wide-field telescopes will offer the best views, and the event can be captured using cameras and smartphones.
​The Jordanian Astronomical Society will observe and document the phenomenon from the Royal Botanical Garden on Thursday evening, broadcasting it live on the society's platforms from 7:15 PM until 8:30 PM.
​The Beehive Cluster is one of the most famous open star clusters in the night sky, containing hundreds of relatively young stars. It can be seen as a faint, blurry patch with the naked eye from dark sky locations. Sakji noted that the cluster has been recognized since the days of Ptolemy, and Galileo observed about 40 stars within it using his telescope. Ancient Arab astronomers referred to it as "Al-Nathrah," considering it one of the lunar mansions in traditional Arabic astronomy. Historically, its rising and setting were linked to weather patterns, agriculture, and seasonal winds within the ancient Arab star calendar system. Modern astronomy has since shown that this hazy patch is an open star cluster located hundreds of light-years away from Earth.
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