Earthshine Moon and Pleiades Stars over Iraq

As the crescent Moon passed above the Pleiades star cluster, a quiet moment unfolded on Earth. In the foreground, a palm tree — symbolic of Iraq’s land and culture — stands silhouetted under the stars. Unexpectedly, my cat, Venus, wandered into the frame and sat peacefully beneath the sky, as if watching the cosmic dance above.

This image merges a celestial alignment with a simple earthly stillness — a reminder that even in silence, the universe continues its rhythm, witnessed not only by humans, but by all life that looks up.

• Camera: Canon EOS 2000D
• Lens: 300mm at f/14
• Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ6-R

• Exposure (Primary Image): 20 x 8-second exposures
• Exposure (Pleiades detail): 30 x 120-second exposures form another date
• Processing: DeepSkyStacker, Adobe Photoshop
• Location: Karbala, Iraq