Observing and photographing the conjunction of Mars with the Beehive cluster in Cancer from the Al-Aalouk Mountains

The lion spread his arms and then scattered...
This is how the ancients described the sight of the Nathra, the magical cluster of stars that adorns our sky tonight in an unmissable scene!

Dr. Ammar Sakriji - Just after sunset, the red planet Mars paired with the Beehive star cluster (M44), also known as the "Beehive," in the constellation of Cancer, in a beautiful scene that can be seen with binoculars or small telescopes.
Al-Nathra is an open star cluster, somewhat faint and appears as a hazy dot in the sky. However, upon magnification, hundreds of brightly colored stars shine from it! The Arabs called it "Al-Nathra" and it has been known since the time of Ptolemy. Galileo observed 40 of its stars with his telescope, and the astronomer Messier cataloged them in his famous guide.
This cluster contains approximately 1,000 stars and is about 600 light-years away. Its uniqueness lies in its honeycomb-like shape – hence its modern name.
Tonight, the scene is even more stunning with the presence of Mars, with its orange-red color, towering over this star cluster as if Cancer (the sign of the Zodiac) had seized it with its celestial claws!
It's a moment to reflect on the beauty of the universe...
Tonight the sky tells a story of light and distant times.

May 5-6, 2025