Mars passes near the Pleiades in a rare sky show over Romania on June 28

On the morning of Sunday 28 June, the planet Mars will appear very close to the Pleiades star cluster in the pre‑dawn eastern sky. The angular separation is expected to be about 4.3–4.4 degrees, allowing both objects to be captured in the same field of view with binoculars or a modest telescope. In Bucharest the optimal viewing window is roughly between 04:15 and 05:15 local time, when the sky is still dark and the horizon to the east‑north‑east is clear.

Astronomers note that this alignment will not be as favorable again until 2034, making it a notable opportunity for observers and photographers. A binocular with 7×50 or 10×50 magnification is sufficient, though a tripod and camera lens can improve photographic results. Observers are reminded never to point any optics toward the Sun as sunrise approaches.