Full Breakdown
Astronomical Photo Series Shows Pleiades and Crescent Moon Across Heilongjiang
7/14/2026, 10:51:42 AM
Astronomical Photo Series Captured on July 11, 2026
On July 11, 2026 a series of photographs documented the Pleiades star cluster appearing alongside a crescent moon. The images were taken in multiple locations throughout Heilongjiang Province in northeast China, providing a coordinated visual record of the night sky on that date.
Cities Featured in Heilongjiang Province
The photographs capture the same celestial configuration in four distinct municipalities:
- Jiayin County of Yichun City
- Tongjiang City
- Mudanjiang City
- Fujin City
Each image presents the Pleiades and the crescent moon as viewed from these separate urban settings, illustrating the widespread visibility of the phenomenon across the province.
Photographers and Agency
The visual record was produced by Xinhua photographers:
- Li Shaojun captured the view in Jiayin County, Yichun City.
- Liu Wanping photographed the scene in Tongjiang City.
- Zeng Dong documented the view in Mudanjiang City.
- An unnamed Xinhua photographer recorded the image in Fujin City.
All four photographs were released through Xinhua, China’s official state news agency.
Observational Context
The series demonstrates that on July 11, 2026 the Pleiades star cluster was observable above the eastern horizon of Heilongjiang while the moon was in a crescent phase. The simultaneous appearance of these two celestial bodies was consistent across the four locations, suggesting clear atmospheric conditions that night. The coordinated release of the images underscores the agency’s effort to showcase a shared astronomical event spanning a broad geographic area.
